dissenting opinion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Legal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “dissenting opinion” mean?
A formal written opinion by a judge or justice in a court case who disagrees with the majority decision of the court.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal written opinion by a judge or justice in a court case who disagrees with the majority decision of the court.
A viewpoint or judgment that disagrees with the prevailing or majority opinion in any group, organization, or discussion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical and used in the same legal contexts in both the UK and US. The UK may also use 'dissenting judgment' interchangeably, though 'opinion' is standard. The US usage is more frequent due to the prominence of published Supreme Court opinions.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of principled, formal opposition. In the US, famous dissenting opinions (e.g., by Justices Holmes or Ginsburg) are culturally significant and sometimes lay groundwork for future legal change.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the public nature of the US Supreme Court and its media coverage. Still common in UK legal and academic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “dissenting opinion” in a Sentence
Justice [Name] issued a dissenting opinion.The dissenting opinion was joined by two other judges.She wrote a dissenting opinion in which she argued that...The decision was 5-4, with a strong dissenting opinion.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dissenting opinion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Law Lord dissented, reading a portion of his written opinion from the bench.
- Few judges dared to dissent in such a high-profile case.
American English
- Justice Sotomayor dissented vigorously in the ruling.
- He chose to dissent from the majority's opinion on constitutional grounds.
adverb
British English
- He spoke dissentingly during the judicial conference.
- (Rarely used; 'in dissent' is preferred).
American English
- She argued dissentingly for a stricter standard.
- (Rarely used; 'in dissent' is preferred).
adjective
British English
- The dissenting justices proposed a different legal test.
- There was a strong dissenting voice on the committee.
American English
- The dissenting opinion was longer than the majority's.
- She filed a powerful dissenting statement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in formal boardroom discussions: 'The CFO's report was a dissenting opinion on the merger strategy.'
Academic
Common in law, political science, and ethics to describe formal disagreement with a scholarly consensus or a panel's findings.
Everyday
Very rare. Used metaphorically to add weight to a disagreement: 'At the family meeting, my plan for a camping holiday was the dissenting opinion.'
Technical
Core usage in legal contexts, specifically appellate and supreme courts. Precisely denotes a published judicial opinion disagreeing with the court's judgment and reasoning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dissenting opinion”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dissenting opinion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dissenting opinion”
- Using it to mean any casual disagreement (e.g., 'My dissenting opinion is that the film was boring').
- Confusing it with a 'concurring opinion' (which agrees with the outcome but for different reasons).
- Misspelling as 'dissentient opinion' (archaic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'dissenting opinion' is specific to judicial decisions in courts. A 'minority report' is a broader term for a formal statement of disagreement by a minority within a committee, commission, or inquiry panel.
It has no immediate legal force, as it does not affect the outcome of the case it accompanies. However, it can be highly influential, serving as persuasive authority in future cases, and may eventually form the basis for overturning the precedent it criticizes.
A *dissenting opinion* disagrees with both the court's judgment (the 'who wins' part) and its legal reasoning. A *concurring opinion* agrees with the court's final judgment but offers different or additional legal reasoning to reach that conclusion.
Yes, but metaphorically or analogically, primarily in formal academic, political, or corporate contexts to give weight to a structured, principled disagreement with a group's majority position. It is not used for informal everyday disagreements.
A formal written opinion by a judge or justice in a court case who disagrees with the majority decision of the court.
Dissenting opinion is usually formal, legal, academic in register.
Dissenting opinion: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈsɛntɪŋ əˈpɪnjən/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈsɛntɪŋ əˈpɪnjən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A voice in the wilderness (metaphorically related)”
- “Swim against the tide (metaphorically related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a judge's gavel hitting the bench, but the sound is 'DIS-SENT' instead of a bang. The 'opinion' is the written reason for that sound of disagreement.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A DEBATE / A TEXTUAL BATTLE. The dissenting opinion is a formal counter-argument in a written duel of legal reasoning.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'dissenting opinion' used MOST accurately?