goal vs. aim vs. objective
– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –
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In Canadian English, and in the contexts of personal life and business, these words are not exactly synonyms; they do not mean the same thing. However, many English learners and native/fluent English speakers often mistake these words for each other. Here are their differences:
GOAL
(noun) a general idea that a person wants to achieve over time, or in the distant future
AIM
(noun) the intended result of an achieved goal
OBJECTIVE
(noun) the purpose for doing something
(noun) a specific, measurable action that a person wants to do in the near future, often as a step in reaching a goal
EXAMPLES
“A common goal that people often have in the new year is to lose weight. Some popular aims include having more energy, being healthier, or to look a certain way. Unfortunately, research shows that a large majority of people do not reach this goal because they do not set themselves objectives (definition 2) (e.g., 1) find an accountability partner; 2.) hire a personal trainer; 3) keep an exercise journal to record physical activity, diet, and progress; 4) conduct a weekly review of this journal with the accountability partner…).
“One of my goals this year is to develop a healthier relationship with time. My aim is to feel less stressed in my spare time so that I actually enjoy activities that are meant to be relaxing, and so that I actually feel relaxed when I need to do work. Some objectives (definition 2) I have to achieve this include: watching movies that I have been wanting to see for quite some time but haven’t yet watched due to worrying about how much of my time they will take up–movies these days can be up to three hours now(!); choosing to read books without checking their number of pages; and reading for as long as I want to in a single sitting (when possible), instead of limiting myself to three chapters or 30 minutes.”
“The objective (definition 1) of the board game, Monopoly, is to own all of the properties. You do this by achieving your goal, which is to win. To get there, your aim must be to bankrupt your opponents. Some objectives (definition 2) to consider while getting there are A) buy as many properties as you can and B) make as much money as you can from them, collecting property groups and placing houses and hotels on them, etc.”
Do you have any goals for 2026? What are your aims and objectives in reaching those goals? Practice using this vocabulary by letting me know in the comments below.
