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. Not influenced by the emotions or prejudices.
3. Based on 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.

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
• objective correlative
• objectivity

Translations

relating to a material object

• Arabic: مادّيّ (ar) (māddiy)
• Dutch: objectief (nl), objectieve (nl)
• Finnish: materiaalinen (fi), esineellinen (fi)
• French: objectif (fr) m, objective (fr) f
• Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m

• Hungarian: tárgyi (hu)
• Italian: oggettivo (it) m
• Polish: obiektowy (pl) m, przedmiotowy (pl) 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 (nl), objectieve (nl), nuchter (nl), nuchtere (nl)
• Finnish: objektiivinen (fi), hyväksytty (fi), puolueeton (fi)
• French: objectif (fr) m, objective (fr) f
• German: objektiv (de)
• Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m, αμερόληπτος (el) (ameróliptos) m

• Italian: obiettivo (it), oggettivo (it)
• Japanese: 客観 (ja) (kakukan, kakkan, kyakkan)
• Polish: obiektywny (pl) m
• Russian: объективный (ru) (ob″jektívnyj)
• Spanish: objetivo (es)
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)

based on observed fact

• Arabic: موضوعي (ar) (mauɖūʕiy)
• Czech: objektivní (cs)
• Dutch: objectief (nl), objectieve (nl)
• Finnish: objektiivinen (fi), totuudenmukainen (fi)
• French: objectif (fr) m, objective (fr) f

• Greek: αντικειμενικός (el) (antikeimenikós) m
• Italian: obiettivo (it)
• Polish: obiektywny (pl) m
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)

grammar

• Finnish: objektiivinen (fi)

• 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

• Finnish: esine (fi)
• Greek: αντικείμενο (el) (antikeímeno) n
• Italian: obiettivo (it) m
• Polish: obiekt (pl) m

• Russian: объект (ru) (obʺjékt) m
• Spanish: objetivo (es) m
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)

goal

• Arabic: هدف (ar) (hádaf) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 目標 (cmn), 目标 (cmn) (mùbiāo), 目的 (cmn) (mùdì, mùdi)

• Czech: záměr (cs) m, cíl (cs) m
• Dutch: doel (nl) n, streefdoel (nl) n, doelstelling (nl) f
• Finnish: tavoite (fi), päämäärä (fi)
• French: objectif (fr) m, but (fr) m
• German: Ziel (de) n
• Greek: αντικείμενο (el) (antikeímeno) n
• Hungarian: cél (hu), célpont (hu)
• Interlingua: objectivo (ia)

• Italian: obbiettivo (it) m, obiettivo (it) m
• Japanese: 目的 (ja) (もくてき, mokuteki)
• Korean: 목적 (ko) (mokjeok) (目的 (ko))
• Polish: cel (pl) m
• Portuguese: objetivo (pt) m
• Russian: цель (ru) (celʹ) f
• Scottish Gaelic: amas (gd) m
• Spanish: objetivo (es) m
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)
• Swedish: objektiv (sv) c

(grammar) the objective case

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 賓位 (cmn), 宾位 (cmn) (bīnwèi), 賓格 (cmn), 宾格 (cmn) (bīngé)

• Finnish: objektiivi (fi)
• Greek: αιτιατική (el) (aitiatikí) f

• Hungarian: tárgyeset (hu)
• Russian: объектный падеж (ru) (obʺjéktnyj padéž) m
• Spanish: objetivo (es) m
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)

lens

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 物鏡 (cmn), 物镜 (cmn) (wùjìng)

• Czech: objektiv (cs) m
• Dutch: objectief (nl) n
• Finnish: objektiivi (fi)
• French: objectif (fr) m
• German: Objektiv (de) n
• Greek: αντικειμενικός φακός (el) (antikeimenikós fakós) m

• Hungarian: objektív (hu)
• Italian: obiettivo (it) m
• Japanese: 対物レンズ (ja) (taibutsu renzu)
• Polish: obiektyw (pl) m
• Russian: объектив (ru) (obʺjektív) m
• Spanish: objetivo (es) m
• Swahili: shabaha (sw)

---

French

Adjective

objective

1. feminine form of objectif

---

Latin

Adjective

objective

1. vocative masculine singular of objectivus