objective // noun, adjective

■ noun [C]

MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES

details of what you are trying to achieve and when:

The main objective of this meeting is to give more information on our plans.

You must set realistic aims and objectives for yourself.

The company is likely to achieve its long-term strategic objective.

My objective is to serve our clients better.

The company has achieved its key objectives for the year.

Here is this year's profit-and-loss objective.

SYN GOAL

the key/main/primary/principal objective

◆ business/learning/performance/strategic objectives

◆ to agree/establish/set objectives

◆ to achieve/meet/reach objectives

◆ to fail to meet/fall short of (your) objectives

■ adjective

not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; considering only facts:

an objective analysis/assessment/report

The important thing is to be objective when making decisions.

She will make an objective evaluation of all the firms competing for the contract.

These figures give a reliable and objective indicator of changing trends in people's lifestyles.

Success should be measured by objective standards.

SYN UNBIASED

objectively adverb:

It is difficult to examine your own performance objectively.

Can these effects be objectively measured?

The results were objectively assessed.

objectivity /; AmE / noun [U]:

There were concerns about the audit's objectivity.

There was a lack of objectivity in the way the candidates were judged.

It is important to maintain our standards of objectivity when carrying out research.

scientific objectivity

• respect
• respond
• respondent
• response
• response rate
• response time
• responsibility
• responsible
• responsive
• rest
• restart
• restate
• restitution
• restock
• restore
• restrain
• restraint
• restrict
• restriction
• restrictive
• restrictive covenant
• restrictive practice
• restructure
• restructuring charge
• results