Objective
/əbˈdʒɛktɪv/
nounadjectiveB2
Definition
As a noun, "objective" means a clear goal or target that a person or group wants to reach. It is something planned and aimed for. As an adjective, "objective" describes a way of thinking or judging that is based on facts and not on personal feelings, opinions, or biases.
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⚡ See It in Action
A goal or target to achieve (noun)
- •Our main objective is to finish the project by Friday.
- •The team's objective is to win the championship this season.
- •Setting clear objectives helps people understand what to work for.
Being fair and not influenced by feelings or opinions (adjective)
- •The judge must be objective when making decisions.
- •It's important to look at the facts objectively before choosing.
- •An objective report gives information without personal bias.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "objective" like "goal" (A1 word), but more formal and often used in work or school settings when you plan something important.
- ✓Picture a target on a wall that you try to hit with an arrow — that target is your objective.
- ✓It's the feeling when you know exactly what you want to do and focus on reaching it.
- ✓Sounds like "ob-JEK-tive" → Imagine a judge saying "Just the facts, please!" to be fair and clear.
- ✓Think of a teacher grading a test by the correct answers, not by how much they like the student — this is being objective.
- ✓NOT like "opinion" (based on feelings), "objective" is based on facts and fairness.
- ✓NOT like "wish" (something you hope for but not planned), an objective is a clear plan or goal.
- ✓NOT like "subjective" (based on personal feelings), "objective" is outside feelings, based on facts.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Aim: a purpose or goal (Use when talking about general intentions or plans)
- •Target: a specific point to reach (Use when emphasizing exact points or numbers)
- •Purpose: the reason for doing something (Use when focusing on why you do something)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ob-" (toward) + "ject" (throw) + "-ive" (adjective suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "objectum," meaning "something thrown before" or "something presented to the mind"
- •Historical development: Originally meant something put in front to be seen or considered; later used for goals or unbiased views
- •Modern usage: Used as a noun for goals and as an adjective for fairness or fact-based views in many fields like business, science, and law
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do your personal feelings sometimes make it hard to be objective about a situation?
•Can you think of a time when having a clear objective helped you succeed in school or work?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The company's objective is to ___ its sales by 20% this year.
2.When writing a report, it is important to stay objective and avoid ___ personal opinions.
3.Unlike a wish, an objective usually has a clear ___ and plan to reach it.
4.The teacher graded the exams objectively, focusing only on the ___ answers.
5.To be objective, you should look at the facts ___ your feelings.
6.Setting clear objectives helps teams ___ their work better.
7.The objective of the meeting was to ___ solutions for the problem.