objective

English

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɒbˈdʒɛk.tɪv/, /əbˈdʒɛk.tɪv/
• (US) IPA: /əbˈdʒɛk.tɪv/

Adjective

objective (comparative more objective, superlative most objective)

1. of or relating to a material object, actual existence or reality
2. agreed upon by all parties present (or nearly all); based on consensually observed facts
   • 1975, Constitution of Greece:

     Engagement of employees in the Public Administration and in the wider Public Sector, ... , shall take place either by competitive entry examination or by selection on the basis of predefined and objective criteria, and shall be subject to the control of an independent authority, as specified by law.

3. not influenced by irrational emotions or prejudices
4. (grammar) of, or relating to a noun or pronoun used as the object of a verb
   • 1921, H. L. Mencken, The American Language:

     Let us now glance at the demonstrative and relative pronouns. Of the former there are but two in English, this and that, with their plural forms, these and those. To them, American adds a third, them, which is also the personal pronoun of the third person, objective case.

Usage notes

• Said of account, judgment, criteria, person, existence, or observation.

Antonyms

• subjective

Derived terms

• nonobjective
• objectivity

Translations

relating to a material object

Arabic: مادّيّ (māddiy) Dutch: objectief, objectieve French: objectif (fr) m., objective (fr) f. Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m.

Italian: oggettivo (it) m. Swahili: shabaha (sw) Tagalog: layunin (tl)

not influenced by emotions

Arabic: حقاني (ar) (Haqqaaniy), عقلاني (ar) (`aqlaaniy), متجرد (ar) (mutajarrid) Chinese: Mandarin: 客觀 (cmn), 客观 (cmn) (kèguān) Dutch: objectief, objectieve, nuchter, nuchtere French: objectif (fr) m., objective (fr) f. German: objektiv (de)

Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m. Italian: obiettivo (it), oggettivo (it) Japanese: 客観 (ja) (kakukan, kakkan, kyakkan) Russian: объективный (ru) (ob″jektívnyj) Spanish: objetivo (es) Swahili: shabaha (sw)

based on observed fact

Arabic: موضوعي (mauɖūʕiy) Czech: objektivní (cs) Dutch: objectief, objectieve French: objectif (fr) m., objective (fr) f.

Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m. Italian: obiettivo (it) Swahili: shabaha (sw)

grammar

Swahili: shabaha (sw)

Noun

objective (plural objectives)

1. A material object that physically exists.
2. A goal that is striven for.
   • 1913, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion, Preface:

     His true objective was the provision of a full, accurate, legible script for our noble but ill-dressed language; but he was led past that by his contempt for the popular Pitman system of Shorthand, which he called the Pitfall system.

3. (grammar) The objective case; a noun or pronoun in that case.
4. The lens or lenses of a camera, microscope, or other optical device closest to the object being examined.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:goal

Translations

material object

Hungarian: tárgyi Italian: obiettivo (it) m. Polish: obiekt (pl) m.

Spanish: objetivo (es) m. Swahili: shabaha (sw)

goal

Arabic: هدف (hádaf) m. Chinese: 目标 (mùbiāo) Dutch: doel n., streefdoel n., doelstelling (nl) f. Finnish: tavoite (fi), päämäärä (fi) French: objectif (fr) m., but (fr) m. German: Ziel (de) n. Hungarian: cél (hu), célpont (hu) Interlingua: objectivo (ia) Italian: obbiettivo (it) m., obiettivo (it) m.

Japanese: 目的 (もくてき, mokuteki) Korean: 목적 (mokjeok) Polish: cel (pl) m. Portuguese: objetivo (pt) m. Russian: цель (tsel’) f. Scottish Gaelic: amas (gd) m. Spanish: objetivo (es) m. Swahili: shabaha (sw) Swedish: objektiv (sv) c.

(grammar) the objective case

Chinese: 宾位 (bīn wèi), 宾格 (bīn gé) Hungarian: tárgyeset (hu) Russian: объективный (ob"jektívnyj)

Spanish: objetivo (es) m. Swahili: shabaha (sw)

lens

Dutch: objectief (nl) n. French: objectif (fr) m. Hungarian: objektív Italian: obiettivo (it) m.

Polish: obiektyw (pl) m. Russian: объектив (ob"jektív) m. Spanish: objetivo (es) m. Swahili: shabaha (sw)

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French

Adjective

objective f.

1. feminine of objectif

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Latin

Adjective

objective

1. vocative masculine singular of objectivus