opinion

[ uh-pin-yuhn ]

noun

1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.

   Synonyms: impression, idea, notion, persuasion

2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
3. the formal expression of a professional judgment:

   to ask for a second medical opinion.

4. Law. the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case.
5. a judgment or estimate of a person or thing with respect to character, merit, etc.:

   to forfeit someone's good opinion.

6. Archaic. a favorable estimate; esteem:

   I haven't much of an opinion of him.

opinion

/ əˈpɪnjən /

noun

1. judgment or belief not founded on certainty or proof
2. the prevailing or popular feeling or view

   public opinion

3. evaluation, impression, or estimation of the value or worth of a person or thing
4. an evaluation or judgment given by an expert

   a medical opinion

5. the advice given by a barrister or counsel on a case submitted to him or her for a view on the legal points involved
6. a matter of opinion
   a point open to question
7. be of the opinion that
   to believe that

Other Words From

• preo·pinion noun
• under·o·pinion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of opinion¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin opīniōn- (stem of opīniō ), derivative of opīnārī “to think, deem”

Word History and Origins

Origin of opinion¹

C13: via Old French from Latin opīniō belief, from opīnārī to think; see opine

Idioms and Phrases

see form an opinion ; matter of opinion .

Synonym Study

Opinion, sentiment, view are terms for one's conclusion about something. An opinion is a belief or judgment that falls short of absolute conviction, certainty, or positive knowledge; it is a conclusion that certain facts, ideas, etc., are probably true or likely to prove so: political opinions; an opinion about art; In my opinion this is true. Sentiment (usually pl. ) refers to a rather fixed conviction, usually based on feeling or emotion rather than reasoning: These are my sentiments. View is an estimate of something, an intellectual judgment, a critical survey based on a mental examination, particularly of a public matter: views on governmental planning.

Example Sentences

But the Senate is where lawmakers’ opinion really matters.

From Salon

There’s nothing like opinion parading as facts to make you happy.

From Salon

Finally, one thing that is being missed badly, in my opinion, is that more Americans identify as independents than they do as Republicans or Democrats.

From Salon

Late that Tuesday evening, the court ended the Florida recount in an unsigned opinion with four dissents.

From Los Angeles Times

Mine is probably a minority opinion, I know, but it’s still a free country.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assessment
• assumption
• attitude
• conclusion
• feeling
• idea
• impression
• judgment
• mind
• notion
• point of view
• reaction
• sentiment
• speculation
• theory
• thought
• view
• viewpoint