Subjective
"Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions; existing in the mind."
Morphological Anatomy
The root subject (from Latin subiectus, meaning "lying under") is combined with the suffix -ive to create an adjective that describes something internal to the subject.
Etymology Timeline
subiectivus
From subiectus, meaning "pertaining to the subject."
Subjective
Initially used in scholastic philosophy to mean "existing in itself." The modern sense of "personal" or "biased" emerged in the 18th century.
Word Family & Derivatives
A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.
The quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings.
To make something subjective; to treat as a subject.
In a way that is based on or influenced by personal feelings.
Usage in Context
The word subjective is essential for discussing personal experiences, tastes, and values. It is often contrasted with "objective." While objective information is factual and measurable, subjective information is based on internal perception.
In the arts, subjective interpretation is encouraged, as different people will have different emotional responses to the same work. However, in scientific research, subjectivity is often minimized to ensure results are reliable and unbiased.
Example Sentences
- "Beauty is subjective and varies from person to person."
- "The review was highly subjective, focusing on the critic's personal preferences."
- "We must recognize that our perceptions are often subjective."