Definition of "objectify" in English

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) 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) To treat (someone) as a mere (often sexual) object, denying their dignity and tending toward dehumanizing them.

   • Near-synonym: demean
   • 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.