1
Core quality
Influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
Example
Assessments of beauty are partly subjective.
subjective
/səbˈdʒektɪv/ · sub-JEK-tivadjective
Influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
Use subjective to express this relationship precisely: influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
What subjective Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
The scoring system reduces, but cannot eliminate, subjective judgment.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
Her account is valuable even though it reflects a subjective experience.
Use subjective Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Assessments of beauty are partly subjective.
The scoring system reduces, but cannot eliminate, subjective judgment.
Her account is valuable even though it reflects a subjective experience.
Precision Matters
Subjective overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
subjective
vs.Means influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
at face value
Means according only to the apparent or literal meaning, without deeper examination.
subjective
vs.Means influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
appraise
Means assess the value, quality, condition, or significance of something.
subjective
vs.Means influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
ambiguous
Means open to more than one reasonable interpretation.
subjective
vs.Means influenced by personal feelings, tastes, experiences, or opinions rather than wholly objective evidence.
relevant
Means directly connected to or useful for the matter being considered.
Test subjective in Context
The ranking depends on individual taste rather than a uniform external measure.
1
Because each reviewer applied personal preferences, the ranking remained highly ___.