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objectivité

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Etymology and origin of the French word objectivité

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1801 Charles de Villers, Philosophie de Kant More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Medieval Latin objectivus

Pronunciation

  • /ɔb.ʒɛk.ti.vi.te/[1]

Forms

objectivité f (plural objectivités)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French objectif + -ité, a learned derivative.[2][1][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg say it comes from the language of Kant's philosophy.[5] The base adjective is taken from Medieval Latin objectivus, a scholastic term opposed to “subjective”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1801 in a note to Charles de Villers's Philosophie de Kant, for the character of what exists independently of thought.[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

The word began in philosophy: Boiste (1803) records it for what exists as an object,[2][7] and Proudhon wrote in 1843 of the objectivité de la science, that is, of what is valid for every mind.[2][6] Littré also notes a new use in literature and the fine arts, for a work that seems to exist independently of the author's own ideas.[8]

In everyday use it came to mean faithfulness to reality (1888, Maupassant)[2][6] and, by 1903, the frame of mind of someone who judges without passion or bias.[2][6] The Académie admitted it in 1878.[7]

Timeline

  • 1801 – Charles de Villers uses it in his book on Kant.[2][3]
  • 1803 – Boiste records it.[2][5][9]
  • 1843 – Proudhon writes of l'objectivité de la science.[2][6]
  • 1878 – The Académie includes it.[7]
  • 1888 – Maupassant uses it for faithfulness to reality.[2][6]
  • 1903 – Romain Rolland uses it for impartiality.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (philosophy) The quality of what exists in itself, independently of the mind.[2][10]
  2. The quality of what gives a faithful picture of the thing observed: l'objectivité d'une enquête.[2][10]
  3. Impartiality, freedom from bias or prejudice in a judgement or a person: manquer d'objectivité.[10][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 265a
  5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Objectivité.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/objectivit%C3%A9. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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