English

Verb

objectify ‎(third-person singular simple present objectifies, present participle objectifying, simple past and past participle objectified)

1. to make something (such as an abstract idea) possible to be perceived by the senses
   • 1906: Jack London, White Fang

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

2. to treat as something objectively real
   • 1921: Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow

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

3. to treat as a mere object and deny the dignity of
   • 1999: Dawson's Creek (TV, episode 3.04)

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

Synonyms

• reify, thingify

Derived terms

• objectification