Word: objective (can be adjective or noun)

Associations

• As an adjective, "objective" means something based on facts, not feelings or opinions.
• As a noun, "objective" means a goal or something you want to achieve.

Examples:

• Adjective: "We need an objective analysis of the data." (Here, it means the analysis should be fair and fact-based.)
• Noun: "Her main objective is to finish the project on time." (Here, it means her goal or aim.)
• Adjective: "Try to be objective when you judge the situation." (Don’t let emotions affect your judgment.)

Synonym difference:

• For the adjective, a similar word is "impartial." But "objective" focuses more on facts, while "impartial" means not taking sides.
• For the noun, a similar word is "goal." "Objective" often sounds more formal or specific.

Substitution

• Instead of adjective "objective," you can say "unbiased," "neutral," or "fact-based," but each can slightly change the meaning.
• Instead of noun "objective," you can say "goal," "aim," "target," or "purpose." "Goal" is more common in everyday speech, while "objective" is more formal.

Deconstruction

• The word comes from Latin "objectum," meaning "something thrown before" or "something presented."
• "Ob-" means "toward" and "ject" means "to throw."
• As a noun, it means something you "throw your attention toward" — a goal.
• As an adjective, it means "based on something presented," i.e., facts.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had to be objective and not let feelings affect your decision?
• What is an important objective you have in your studies or work right now?
• How is being objective different from being subjective? When is it better to be subjective?