What does subjective mean?
Subjective describes a judgment, experience, or perspective that depends on an individual's feelings, beliefs, impressions, or personal circumstances rather than on facts alone or impartial standards. In everyday use, the word often contrasts with objective: a subjective opinion may be sincere and well reasoned without being capable of universal verification. It can also suggest that something is impressionistic, biased, or rooted in a particular point of view. In philosophy and psychology, subjective has a more technical role, referring to conscious experiences and the qualities perceived by an individual mind. The word is useful because it identifies the perspective from which an assessment is made, while encouraging readers to distinguish personal experience from evidence that can be checked and corroborated.
adjectiveBased on personal feelings, opinions, or experiences rather than objective facts or impartial judgment. In philosophy, it may describe perceptions or ideas that exist as conscious experiences.
- Based on personal feelings, opinions, beliefs, or experiences rather than objective facts or impartial standards.
- Pertaining to conscious perception, sensation, or mental experience, especially in philosophical or psychological contexts.
"The film offers a deeply subjective account of life in the countryside."
"Her assessment of the performance was subjective, but carefully reasoned and deeply personal."
"The study distinguishes the patient's subjective symptoms from measurable clinical signs."
The word subjective reminds us that a fact can be true while the way we experience it remains deeply personal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does subjective come from?
The adjective comes from Latin subjectivus, meaning “of or relating to a subject,” which was developed in medieval scholastic terminology to distinguish subjective ideas from objective ones. Its ultimate roots lie in the Latin word subjectus, a form of subjacere, meaning “to be placed under” or “to underlie,” with the prefix sub- meaning “under” and the root jacere meaning “to throw” or “to place.” English borrowed the word in the early 17th century for philosophical discussions of the mind and knowledge.
Related word forms
How subjective is actually used
Subjective is common in both formal and informal English. It can indicate a personal perspective, but it may also imply bias, impressionism, or a lack of impartiality, depending on context. In philosophy and psychology, it has a more technical meaning concerning conscious experience.
Easily confused with subjective
Subjective judgments reflect an individual's feelings or perspective, whereas objective judgments are intended to be based on verifiable facts and impartial standards.