Objectify

/əbˈd͡ʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/ · verb

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

1. (ambitransitive) To make (something, such as an abstract idea) possible to be perceived by the senses.
2. (transitive) To treat (something) as objectively real.
3. (transitive, originally feminism) To treat (someone) as a mere (usually sexual) object; to sexually dehumanize (someone).

Example Sentences

It was the unknown, objectified at last, in concrete flesh and blood, bending over him and reaching down to seize hold of him.

The mystic objectifies a rich feeling in the pit of the stomach into a cosmology.

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.

The entire notion of cheerleading is just a sexist attempt to try to objectify the female body.

Synonyms for objectify

Antonyms for objectify

Related Words

Word Forms

• objectifies
• objectifying
• objectified

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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