I. (ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv adjective
Date: 15th century
1. : of, relating to, or constituting a subject: as
a. obsolete : of, relating to, or characteristic of one that is a subject especially in lack of freedom of action or in submissiveness
b. : being or relating to a grammatical subject ; especially : nominative
2. : of or relating to the essential being of that which has substance, qualities, attributes, or relations
3.
a. : characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind : phenomenal — compare objective 1b
b. : relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states
4.
a.
(1) : peculiar to a particular individual : personal
subjective judgments
(2) : modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background
a subjective account of the incident
b. : arising from conditions within the brain or sense organs and not directly caused by external stimuli
subjective sensations
c. : arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes
a subjective symptom of disease
— compare objective 1c
5. : lacking in reality or substance : illusory
• sub·jec·tive·ly adverb
• sub·jec·tive·ness noun
• sub·jec·tiv·i·ty -ˌjek-ˈti-və-tē noun
II. noun
Date: 1817
: something that is subjective ; also : nominative