adjective

subjective

/səbˈdʒɛktɪv/ · say it: suhb·JEK·tiv

based on personal feelings or opinions

In Debate & Persuasion

In more detail

1. (adjective) based on personal feelings, opinions, or experiences rather than facts

2. (adjective) existing only in the mind of a person; not based on external reality

Examples

1. The reviewer's subjective opinion about the movie was very different from mine.
2. Pain is subjective because it depends on how each person experiences it.

How to use subjective

Subjective describes something rooted in personal perspective, feelings, or interpretation rather than verifiable facts. It is commonly used in academic, philosophical, and everyday contexts to acknowledge bias or individual variation. The term often implies that reasonable people may differ, and is frequently contrasted with objective or empirical evidence.

Common phrases

subjective experience
subjective judgment
subjective opinion
subjective perspective
subjective assessment
entirely subjective

Synonyms

personal · individual · opinionated · biased · impressionistic

Opposites

objective · factual · impartial

Word family

subjectivity (noun) · subjectively (adverb) · subject (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use subjective to mean simply personal opinion without recognizing that subjective can apply to honest, thoughtful judgments that still lack objective grounding—not every subjective view is reckless or wrong.

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