subjective

/ˈsʌbdʒɪktɪv/
adjectiveIntermediate
formal

Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions rather than objective criteria.

The judge's decision was criticized for being too subjective.

The decision was seen as influenced by personal bias rather than facts.

💡

Often contrasted with 'objective,' which refers to facts or evidence.

technical

Relating to the mind or mental processes, especially as opposed to external reality.

Subjective experiences, like dreams, are hard to quantify.

Personal mental experiences are difficult to measure scientifically.

💡

Used in psychology to describe phenomena that are internally perceived.

Collocations

subjective opiniona personal viewpointsubjective experiencea personal perceptionsubjective judgmenta biased assessment

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

subject tophrase
likely to be affected by
subject matterphrase
the topic or content of a discussion

💡Pro Tip

Avoid bias

Use 'subjective' to describe opinions, but ensure critical analysis relies on evidence.

Gold Rule

Clarity in writing

Distinguish between subjective and objective language to improve argument strength.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'subjectivus,' meaning 'of or belonging to a subject,' from 'subiectus,' past participle of 'subicere' (to place under).

📝Usage Notes

Avoid using 'subjective' when objective data or evidence is required. In academic or professional settings, 'objective' is often preferred.

Word Breakdown

subject
a person or thing that is acted upon
root
+
-ive
relating to or characterized by
suffix
English Dictionary