opinion

/ə'pinjən/

Friendly

Word: Opinion

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: An opinion is a personal belief or judgment about something, which is not based on certain knowledge or proof. It reflects what someone thinks or feels about a particular topic.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "opinion" when you want to express what you believe or feel about a subject.
• It's often used in discussions, debates, or when asking for someone’s thoughts.

Examples:

1. "In my opinion, summer is the best season of the year."
2. "What is your opinion on climate change?"
3. "She has a strong opinion about the new policy at work."

Advanced Usage:

• Legal Context: In law, an "opinion" can refer to a written explanation by a judge detailing the reasons for a court's decision. For example, "The judge's opinion explained the legal basis for the ruling."
• Public Opinion: This term refers to the views held by the general public on various issues, often measured through polls. For example, "The public opinion on the new law was mostly negative."

Word Variants:

• Opinionated (adjective): Someone who is very sure of their opinions and tends to express them strongly, sometimes without considering other perspectives. Example: "He is quite opinionated about politics."
• Opine (verb): To express an opinion. Example: "She opines that education is the key to success."

Different Meaning:

• An opinion can also refer to a belief that may be widely held by people. For example, "The opinion of the community was in favor of the new park."

Synonyms:

• Belief
• View
• Sentiment
• Judgment
• Perspective

Idioms:

• "To have an opinion of one's own": This means to have a personal belief or view that is different from others. Example: "She has an opinion of her own about how to solve the issue."
• "In my opinion": A phrase used to introduce your personal view on a topic. Example: "In my opinion, education should be free for everyone."

Phrasal Verb:

• "To weigh in on (something)": To give your opinion about a topic. Example: "Many experts weighed in on the debate about climate change."

Summary:

An opinion is a personal belief or feeling about something, not based on certain knowledge. It can vary greatly from person to person, and expressing it can lead to interesting discussions.

Academic

Noun

1. a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
   • his impression of her was favorable
   • what are your feelings about the crisis?
   • it strengthened my belief in his sincerity
   • I had a feeling that she was lying
2. the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
3. the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision
   • opinions are usually written by a single judge
4. a belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people
   • he asked for a poll of public opinion
5. a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof
   • his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page
6. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
   • my opinion differs from yours
   • I am not of your persuasion
   • what are your thoughts on Haiti?

Synonyms

• impression
• feeling
• belief
• notion
• ruling
• legal opinion
• judgment
• judgement
• public opinion
• popular opinion
• vox populi
• view
• sentiment
• persuasion
• thought