Opinion

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈpɪnjÉ™n/
• Rhymes: -ɪnjÉ™n

Origin

Middle English opinion, opinioun, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French opinion

, from Latin opinio, from opinor ("to opine").

Full definition of opinion

Noun

1. A belief that a person has formed about a topic or issue.I would like to know your opinions on the new systems.In my opinion, white chocolate is better than milk chocolate.Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. - Oscar Wilde
2. The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
• 1606, William Shakespeare, , I. vii. 32:I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.
• SouthFriendship ... gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
3. (obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
• 1597, William Shakespeare, , V. iv. 47:Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion.
• MiltonThis gained Agricola much opinion, who ... had made such early progress into laborious ... enterprises.
4. (obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
• 1590, William Shakespeare, , V. i. 5:Your reasons at
  dinner have been sharp and sententious, pleasant
  without scurrility, witty without affection, audacious
  without impudency, learned without opinion, and
  strange without heresy.
5. The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
6. (European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible

Derived terms

• advisory opinion
• be of the opinion
• in my humble opinion/IMHO
• in my opinion
• in one's opinion
• opinion poll
• public opinion
• scientific opinion
• second opinion

Related terms

• opination
• opine
• opinionated

Verb

1. (transitive, archaic) To have or express as an opinion.
• 1658, But if (as some opinion) King Ahasuerus were Artaxerxes Mnemon ..., our magnified Cyrus was his second Brother — Sir Thomas Browne, The Graden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 166)