Standard Lemma guide

objectify

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /əbˈd͡ʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make (something, such as an abstract idea) possible to be perceived by the senses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: objectivize, reify, thingify

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To treat (something) as objectively real.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: objectivize, reify, thingify

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To treat (someone) as a mere (usually sexual) object; to sexually dehumanize (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: demean, fetishize
  • 1994 "Book review: Fire With Fire", backlash.comhttp://www.backlash.com/content/gender/1996/3-mar96/page23.html She talks about the fact that women objectify men just as much as men objectify women, and she even admits her culpability in doing so by talking about how sometimes she wishes she had a group of "nubile 17 year old soccer players" to keep her happy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demean, fetishize

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

make impersonal or present as an object

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Will computers depersonalize human interactions?
  • Pornography objectifies women

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: depersonalize, depersonalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

5

verb

Meaning 5

make external or objective, or give reality to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • language externalizes our thoughts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exteriorize, exteriorise, externalize, externalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1óp(i) Proto-Italic *op Latin ob Latin ob- Proto-Indo-European *(H)yeh1- Proto-Indo-European *-kt Proto-Indo-European *(H)yéh1kt ~ *(H)ih1kéntder. Latin iaciō Latin obiciō Latin obiectus Medieval Latin obiectum Old French objectbor. English object Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English objectify From object + -ify.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 具象化 (jùxiànghuà) — to make possible to be perceived by the senses
  • Polish: uprzedmiotawiać — to make possible to be perceived by the senses
  • Polish: uprzedmiotowić — to make possible to be perceived by the senses
  • Spanish: objetivar — to make possible to be perceived by the senses
  • Chinese Mandarin: 物化 (wùhuà) — to treat as a mere object, denying their dignity
  • Finnish: esineellistää — to treat as a mere object, denying their dignity
  • Spanish: cosificar — to treat as a mere object, denying their dignity