opinion
noun
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Definition of opinion
1a : a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter We asked them for their opinions about the new stadium.
2a : belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge a person of rigid opinions
b : a generally held view news programs that shape public opinion
3a : a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert My doctor says that I need an operation, but I'm going to get a second opinion.
b : the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based The article discusses the recent Supreme Court opinion.
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Other Words from opinion
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adjective
Synonyms for opinion
Synonyms
belief, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment (or judgement), mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view
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Examples of opinion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Defeated prime ministers have pointed to several reasons why instability has become the norm, among them a 24-hour news cycle amplified by social media and short election cycles that lead lawmakers to obsess over opinion polls. — Rob Taylor, WSJ, "Australia’s Ruling Party Seeks to Shut Revolving Door of Prime Ministers," 4 Dec. 2018 But on Tuesday, The New York Times published an opinion piece claiming the opposite. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Blockchain-based elections would be a disaster for democracy," 6 Nov. 2018 Of course, Jeffree Star had a LOT of opinions on it. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "A Definitive Timeline of Kylie Jenner's Messy Feud With Jeffree Star," 18 July 2018 The photo below is mine, illustrating an opinion piece for the newspaper, bemoaning the increading use of decorative LED lighting on the city's skyscrapers. — Tom Gralish, Philly.com, "This week in Photos: July 9, 2018," 11 July 2018 But his supporters have cited his experience and wide range of legal opinions. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Trump nominates GOP favorite Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court," 10 July 2018 The outcome of the political fight will have little to do with the objective features or merits of the plan and everything to do with who wins the battle for public opinion. — David Roberts, Vox, "Canadian premier Justin Trudeau is betting his reelection on a carbon tax," 24 Oct. 2018 In the first comprehensive national public-opinion study about how non-Natives perceive Native Americans, researchers conducted 28 focus groups in 11 states, surveyed 13,306 people online, and analyzed 4.9 million social media posts. — Rebecca Nagle, Teen Vogue, "Invisibility is the Modern Form of Racism Against Native Americans," 23 Oct. 2018 The most important discoveries are then circulated quickly to experts in Wales for their opinion, while the new photographs are carefully organized and permanently archived. — Fox News, "Drought reveals 'ghost gardens,' ancient cemeteries, lost cities across British Isles," 2 Oct. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opinion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Learn More about opinion
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Is 'Consensus of Opinion' Redundant?
Is 'Consensus of Opinion' Redundant?
Is 'consensus of opinion' redundant?
Dictionary Entries near opinion
Statistics for opinion
Last Updated
9 Dec 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for opinion
The first known use of opinion was in the 14th century
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More Definitions for opinion
opinion
noun
English Language Learners Definition of opinion
: a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something : what someone thinks about a particular thing
: advice from someone with special knowledge : advice from an expert
: a formal statement by a judge, court, etc., explaining the reasons a decision was made according to laws or rules
See the full definition for opinion in the English Language Learners Dictionary
opinion
noun
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Kids Definition of opinion
1 : a belief based on experience and on certain facts but not amounting to sure knowledge In my opinion you should take the job.
2 : a judgment about a person or thing She has a high opinion of herself.
3 : a statement by an expert after careful study He should get an opinion from a lawyer.
opinion
noun
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Medical Definition of opinion
: a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert wanted a second opinion on the advisability of performing the operation
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opinion
noun
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Legal Definition of opinion
1a : a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge
b : a formal expression of a judgment or appraisal by an expert — see also opinion testimony at testimony — compare fact
2a
: advice or evaluation regarding the legal issues involved in a situation given by an attorney to a client
an opinion of title
— called also
legal opinion
b : an advisory opinion issued by an authorized public official (as an attorney general) or a recognized body (as the American Bar Association)
3a : the formal written expression by a court or judge of the reasons and principles of law upon which the decision in a case is based — compare holding, judgment, ruling
: a nonbinding opinion or evaluation of a court or other judicial or quasi-judicial authority or body regarding the effect of the law on a situation that does not present an actual controversy between parties
to answer questions which were not brought before this Court would be to issue an advisory opinion — JBC of Wyoming Corp. v. City of Cheyenne, 843 P.2d 1190 (1992)
Note:
Advisory opinions are issued especially by administrative agencies and by some state courts. Federal courts are constrained by the U.S. Constitution to deciding only cases or controversies and cannot issue advisory opinions.
: an opinion by a judge who agrees with the result in a case but not necessarily with the reasoning used to reach it
: an opinion by a judge who disagrees with the result in a case
: an opinion in a case that is written by one judge and in which a majority of the judges on the court join
1 : a brief opinion of a court that announces the result of a case without extensive discussion and that is usually unpublished and cannot be cited as precedent
2 : an opinion of the U.S. Tax Court that is ordered not to be published but that is authoritative as precedent
3a : an opinion of a court that sets forth the court's views or intended decision in a case but does not constitute the judgment
b : an opinion of a court or judge setting forth the conclusions and findings and containing or constituting the actual order, judgment, or decree in the case
: a usually very brief unanimous opinion attributed to the court as a whole and not to any particular judge
: an opinion with which a majority of the judges on the court concur in result but not in reasoning
: an opinion written separately by a judge who dissents or who concurs only in the result of the majority opinion
: an opinion published in temporary form soon after the decision is rendered
b : a written explanation for a decision reached by an official (as an arbitrator) presiding over the nonjudicial resolution of a dispute
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