a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
the formal expression of a professional judgment: to ask for a second medical opinion.
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.
a judgment or estimate of a person or thing with respect to character, merit, etc.: to forfeit someone's good opinion.
Archaic. a favorable estimate; esteem: I haven't much of an opinion of him.
Origin of opinion
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin opīniōn- (stem of opīniō ), derivative of opīnārī “to think, deem”
SYNONYMS FOR opinion
1 persuasion, notion, idea, impression.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR opinion ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for opinion
1. 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.
historical usage of opinion
English opinion comes from Middle English opinion, openyoun, from Anglo-French opinion, oppinion “view, belief,” later “reputation” and “intention, judgment.” The French comes from Latin opīniō (inflectional stem opīniōn- ), which has all of the French senses, vague as they are (in that they refer to belief as opposed to fact or truth). Opīniō is a derivative of the verb opīnārī “to suppose, imagine, conjecture.” The English noun ranges in meaning from a personal belief resting on grounds incapable of proof, to the formal statement of a court or judge of the reasoning and principles of law used in reaching a decision, to the expert opinion of a physician or other professional, as well as continuing the vague meanings of French and Latin. The terms opinion poll and opinion polling date from about 1940, although poll in the sense “a survey of public opinion on an issue” appeared around the turn of the 20th century.
Forty-nine percent view Graham unfavorably, while only 34 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Harrison.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Emanuel had decided to participate in the rulemaking after the ethics opinion cleared him to do so.
“Cover Up”: House Democrats Subpoena Documents That NLRB Refused to Share in Ethics Investigation|by Ian MacDougall|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
His opinion differs from that of Danskin or McClain in that Jackson believes the aquifer has been irreversibly tarnished by the contamination and subsequent pumping it out.
Pursuing Independent Water Sources, San Diego Ignores One Beneath Its Feet|MacKenzie Elmer|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
I was reminded of this when I read a FiveThirtyEight article on changes in public opinion about reopening the economy.
Why Coming Up With Effective Interventions To Address COVID-19 Is So Hard|Neil Lewis Jr. (nlewisjr@cornell.edu)|September 14, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
In my opinion, the Kitchell report dramatically overstates how much it will cost to make the building useful, and how long it will take.
Flaws and Assumptions Render 101 Ash St. Assessment Meaningless|Sandor Shapery|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In a bit of foreshadowing, he repeated that opinion in November.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In my opinion I think that the smugglers are real criminals.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Spin control began, Florida-style: the opinion only covers some counties, some people, some times.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over|Jay Michaelson|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In my opinion Lee was one of the greatest actors of all time.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He's watching it because of his fondness for Bergman and because, he says, “She'll be nervous about my opinion.”
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was of opinion that, upon their conduct at this crisis depended the future destinies of the Netherlands.
The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Volume III.(of III) 1574-84|John Lothrop Motley
In order then to have every thing distinct and accurate, they had brought their opinion forward in the form it now appears.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
She thought Alice a bit of a sneak, an opinion her brothers shared, and Gwen rather a snatch at meals.
Ann Veronica|H. G. Wells
The climate of Cannes has been the subject of a considerable variety of opinion,—the preponderance being, however, in its favour.