objectify

B2 Topic:Social Issues & Human Rights

US /əbˈdʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/ UK /ɒbˈdʒektɪfaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #56993

Meanings

1

verb
to treat a person as an object rather than as a complete human being

The advertisement seemed to objectify its models.
2

verb
to express an abstract idea in a concrete or visible form

The sculpture seeks to objectify the artist's grief.
3

verb
to regard or present something as objectively real

The theory may objectify a feeling that is deeply personal.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to treat a person as an... dehumanize depersonalizecommodify

2 verb · to express an abstract idea... embody externalize materialize

3 verb · to regard or present... reifysubstantializemake concrete

Opposites

humanize personalize

Word family

Forms objectifies

Derived forms objectificationobjectifiedobjectifyingobjectifier

Related forms object objectivecommodifysexualize

Etymology

Formed in English from object and -ify, ultimately drawing on Latin obiectum, ‘a thing presented to the mind.’ Its modern social sense emphasizes reducing a person to the status of a thing.

Topics

Social Issues & Human Rights

External links

# objectify

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əbˈdʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɒbˈdʒektɪfaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 56993

## Meanings
1. to treat a person as an object rather than as a complete human being
2. to express an abstract idea in a concrete or visible form
3. to regard or present something as objectively real

## Examples
- The advertisement seemed to objectify its models.
- The sculpture seeks to objectify the artist's grief.
- The theory may objectify a feeling that is deeply personal.

## Synonyms
- dehumanize
- depersonalize
- reify
- externalize

## Antonyms
- humanize
- personalize

## Derived Forms
- objectification
- objectified
- objectifying
- objectifier

## Related Forms
- object
- objective
- commodify
- sexualize

## Etymology
Formed in English from object and -ify, ultimately drawing on Latin obiectum, ‘a thing presented to the mind.’ Its modern social sense emphasizes reducing a person to the status of a thing.

## Topics
- Social Issues & Human Rights

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