opinion poll
C1Formal, Political, Media
Definition
Meaning
A survey of public opinion on a particular topic or set of topics.
A systematic data collection method used to measure the attitudes, beliefs, or voting intentions of a population, typically conducted by asking a representative sample of people a series of questions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to a methodologically sound survey designed to gauge public opinion, distinct from informal or anecdotal assessments. Implies a structured questionnaire and sampling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The collocations 'opinion poll' and 'public opinion poll' are standard in both. 'Poll' alone is more common in US headlines.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties, though often carries connotations of political strategy and media speculation.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media due to parliamentary system and shorter election cycles, but very common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + an opinion poll (conduct, release, commission)opinion poll + [prep.] + [topic] (on, about)opinion poll + [verb] (shows, indicates, suggests)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a poll of polls (meta-analysis of multiple polls)”
- “to be polling at X%”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in market research to gauge consumer sentiment towards products or brands.
Academic
A methodological tool in political science, sociology, and statistics for studying public attitudes.
Everyday
Discussed in news reports about elections, government popularity, or social issues.
Technical
Refers to a specific quantitative research method with defined sampling, margin of error, and questionnaire design.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The firm was commissioned to poll public opinion on the new policy.
American English
- The campaign is polling well in key swing states.
adverb
British English
- The party is currently polling poorly in the north.
American English
- The candidate is surprisingly polling ahead in the suburbs.
adjective
British English
- The opinion-poll data revealed a significant shift.
American English
- She reviewed the latest polling numbers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The newspaper did an opinion poll. Many people like the new park.
- According to the latest opinion poll, the government's popularity has fallen.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a POLL asking for your OPINION. It's like a 'population opinion list'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PUBLIC OPINION IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (e.g., 'The poll measured a rise in support.'); THE ELECTORATE IS A PATIENT BEING DIAGNOSED (e.g., 'Polls are taking the nation's pulse.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'опрос мнения' – 'опрос общественного мнения' or simply 'опрос' is more natural.
- Do not confuse with 'голосование' (voting). An opinion poll is a survey, not an election.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'opinion poll' as a verb (incorrect: 'They opinion-polled the citizens.' Correct: 'They conducted an opinion poll.').
- Confusing 'opinion poll' (general survey) with 'exit poll' (survey of voters leaving polling stations).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an 'opinion poll'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An opinion poll is a survey of intentions or attitudes. An election is the official process of choosing representatives by casting votes.
Often, but not always. 'Opinion poll' specifically targets attitudes/opinions, often political. 'Survey' is broader and can cover behaviors, facts, or customer satisfaction.
It's a statistical measure expressing the amount of random sampling error in the poll's results, indicating a range within which the true population value likely lies.
Differences can arise from variations in sampling method, question wording, order of questions, the time the poll was conducted, and the poll's margin of error.