subjectivity

noun

sub·​jec·​tiv·​i·​ty (ˌ)səb-ˌjek-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce subjectivity (audio)
Synonyms of subjectivitynext
: the quality, state, or nature of being subjective
Any attempt to link landscapes and music together can suffer from some measure of subjectivity.—David J. Keeling
He thinks that scientists and philosophers have unjustly neglected the subjectivity of conscious experience and that this has made it harder for them to explain some of the workings of the mind.—Anthony Gottlieb

Examples of subjectivity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Psychologists talk about babies going through mirror stages as a step in their development of subjectivity. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Silicon Valley insisted that their tools could finally eliminate uncertainty and subjectivity from juridical decision and instantiate a perfectly mathematical official antiracism in criminal justice. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 Color analysis is both a science and an art, building on color theory with the subjectivity of style and fashion. — Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Rather, their time-switching variety and tone-shifting allusions suggest a trip through subjectivity—through Sterling’s inner life and through the collective memory of the town. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subjectivity

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subjectivity was in 1803

Rhymes for subjectivity

See All Rhymes for subjectivity

Browse Nearby Words

subjectivistic
subjectivity
subjectivization
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subjectivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subjectivity. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

subjectivity

noun
sub·​jec·​tiv·​i·​ty ˌsəb-jek-ˈtiv-ət-ē How to pronounce subjectivity (audio)
plural subjectivities
1
: subjective character, quality, state, or nature
2
: the personal qualities of an investigator that affect the outcome of scientific or medical research (as by unconsciously communicating a bias to the subject of the experiment)

More from Merriam-Webster on subjectivity

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for subjectivity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All