1. Perceived by the individual only and not evident to the examiner; said of certain symptoms, such as pain. 2. Colored by one's personal beliefs and attitudes. Cf.:objective (2). [L. subjectivus, fr. subjicio, to throw under]
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sub·jec·tive (.)səb-'jek-tiv adj
1 a) relating to or determined by the mind as the subject of experience <\subjective reality>
b) characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind
c) relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states
2 a) arising from conditions within the brain or sense organs and not directly caused by external stimuli <\subjective sensations>
b) arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes and not observable by an examiner <a \subjective symptom of disease> <caused objective or \subjective clinical improvement or both (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc.)> compare OBJECTIVE (2)
sub·jec·tive·ly adv
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sub·jec·tive (səb-jekґtiv) [L. subjectivus] pertaining to or perceived only by the affected individual; not perceptible to the senses of another person.Medical dictionary. 2011.