opinion
A1 (Very High)Neutral (Used in all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
A personal view, judgment, or belief about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
A formal assessment or expert judgment (e.g., legal opinion, medical opinion). A widely held collective view (e.g., public opinion). The estimation of one's character by others (e.g., opinion of him sank).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A key distinction exists between 'opinion' (subjective) and 'fact' (objective). Its use often signals a non-authoritative, personal stance, unless modified by words like 'expert' or 'legal'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is remarkably consistent. Minor differences exist in legal phrasing (e.g., 'take counsel's opinion' is more common in UK law). The phrase 'a matter of opinion' is slightly more frequent in American English.
Connotations
No significant connotational differences.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have an opinion on/about somethingbe of the opinion that...in someone's opiniongive/express/voice an opinionform an opinionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A matter of opinion”
- “Difference of opinion”
- “In my humble opinion (IMHO)”
- “Be of the same opinion”
- “A hostage to fortune (in context of expressing a firm opinion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings and reports to signal non-binding suggestions (e.g., 'In my opinion, we should delay the launch.')
Academic
Used cautiously, often prefaced to distinguish from evidence-based argument (e.g., 'It is the author's opinion that further research is needed.')
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily conversation to express personal preference or judgment (e.g., 'What's your opinion on the new film?')
Technical
Specific in fields like law ('legal opinion'), medicine ('second opinion'), and surveying ('surveyor's opinion of value').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I would opine that the proposal is flawed.
- He opined at length about the state of the railways.
American English
- The commentator opined that the team would lose.
- She opined on the current political climate.
adverb
British English
- 'It's a disaster,' she said opinionatively.
- (Rare; 'opinionatedly' is more standard but uncommon.)
American English
- He spoke opinionatedly on every topic.
- (Rare; typically expressed with 'in an opinionated way'.)
adjective
British English
- He is very opinionated about football.
- An opinion-forming article in the newspaper.
American English
- She's known for being opinionated on social media.
- The panel was full of opinionated pundits.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- What is your opinion?
- In my opinion, pizza is the best food.
- He has a different opinion.
- Could I ask your opinion on this design?
- The public opinion has shifted on that issue.
- We had a difference of opinion about where to go.
- It is my considered opinion that we should invest elsewhere.
- The expert's opinion carried a lot of weight in the discussion.
- She's never been shy about voicing her strong opinions.
- The judge will deliver a written opinion on the constitutional matter next week.
- His latest editorial is a scathing opinion piece on government policy.
- The consultant's opinion was sought to resolve the technical impasse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I PIN my thoughts on the board.' OPINION is where you PIN your personal thoughts for others to see.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPINION IS A POSSESSION ('have an opinion', 'hold an opinion'), OPINION IS A COMMODITY ('give your opinion', 'get an opinion'), OPINION IS A DIRECTION ('a difference of opinion').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'опыт' (experience). 'Opinion' is 'мнение'.
- The phrase 'public opinion' is a fixed term; direct translation from 'общественное мнение' is correct.
- In Russian, one often says 'Я думаю' (I think) where English might use 'In my opinion...'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'opinion' as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'In opinion of many' → 'In the opinion of many').
- Confusing 'opinion about' and 'opinion on' (both are generally acceptable, 'on' is slightly more formal).
- Using 'opinion' synonymously with 'fact' in academic writing.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is typically used to introduce a very firm, possibly controversial personal view?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Opinion' is a personal view or judgment. 'Advice' is a recommendation about what someone should do. You can give your opinion *as* advice, but they are not synonymous.
Yes, it is a countable noun. You can have 'an opinion' or 'many opinions' on a topic.
Use phrases that acknowledge their view first: 'I see your point, but I have a slightly different opinion...' or 'That's an interesting opinion. However, I tend to think that...'
It means something is not a fact but depends on personal judgment or taste, and therefore people can legitimately disagree about it (e.g., 'Whether this film is good or not is a matter of opinion').
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.