What does it mean if something is subjective? The subjective meaning refers to a belief based on opinions and feelings rather than facts. Do you want to use it in a sentence or everyday conversation? Read on!
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What Is Subjective?
As mentioned earlier, the subjective meaning people most often intend when using the word is “based on feelings and opinions, not facts.”
Fun Fact: Subjective is an adjective that comes from late Middle English. It derives from the Latin subjectivus, which applies to the subject of a ruler.
Keep in mind that subjective judgment or subjective views may sound like factual statements. However, the basis for them is personal beliefs, opinions, and experiences. There may be facts that support such judgments and views, but there aren’t facts to prove them.
Examples:
- That was a subjective take on events, and many others viewed them differently.
- Journalists should present an objective case and not subjective perspectives.
- Deciding which ice cream flavor is the best is a subjective thing.
- A person’s subjective perception shouldn’t be the only criteria; we should also have objective criteria!
- If your argument is based on a person’s emotions, then it’s subjective!
- Your subjective reality is highly debatable.
- My subjective opinion is based on my personal experience.
- Your personal taste is subjective.
When and How to Use Subjective?
If you’re labeling something as subjective, you need to make sure it’s based on opinions and feelings. If it is based on facts and provable, then it’s not subjective.
A subjective position may be persuasive, and you may agree with it, but you can’t prove it.
Take movies as an example. Adjusted for inflation, Gone with the Wind is the highest-grossing film of all time. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best movie of all time; believing so is subjective. It’s high on many lists of the best films ever, but those lists are subjective as well.
Another popular subject with high subjectivity is food. Your favorite food may be pizza, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best food. It may be the best for you, but others prefer steak, seafood, omelets, and other choices.
What’s the Difference To Objective?
If something subjective is based on opinions, then something objective is based on facts.
Let’s go back to movies. Not adjusted for inflation, Avatar is currently the highest-grossing film of all time. You can look this up and verify it, and the numbers are based on recorded receipts.
It’s also objectively true, for example, that gravity is real and polar bears live in the Arctic.
There’s another meaning of objective worth exploring in this context. It means “open-minded.” For instance, an objective person is willing to consider various facts and ideas before coming to a conclusion on something.
Tip: To help you remember which word to use, a viewpoint that is based on personal preferences, personal perspective, or personal feelings is always subjective.
Final Thoughts
For most people, the most common subjective meaning is “based not on facts but on opinions and feelings.” Remember, a subjective view, no matter how strongly held, cannot be proven universally true. For instance, you might say that the Beatles are the best band ever, but you can’t definitively prove that. It’s subjective!
