ˌsəbˌjekˈtivəd.ē, -_jə̇k-, -vətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: New Latin subjectivitat-, subjectivitas, from subjectivus subjectivistic (from Late Latin & Medieval Latin, subjective) + Latin -itat-, -itas -ity — more at subjective
1. : subjective character, quality, state, or nature especially in an artistic or literary work : the individuality of an artist as expressed through his work or performance
2. : subjectivism
3. : the quality of an investigator that affects the results of observational investigation (as in scientific observation) by reason of the individual and peculiar characteristics and reaction of or response to the media by the aid of which the investigations are conducted — compare personal equation
4. : the testing of truth solely by standards which can be applied only by the individual subject making the judgment (as by some subjective impression or feeling or by an arbitrary individual purpose or will to believe) instead of by some objective criterion accessible to others (as logical reasoning, history, verification in generally accessible experience) or even by some traditional external authority frankly recognized as such