# opinion

/əˈpɪnjən/ (US) · /əpˈɪniən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/opinion
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. personal belief

noun · CEFR A1

your personal thought or belief about someone or something, which may not be based on facts.

For teachers: a belief or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

- In my opinion, the city is much more beautiful in the autumn.
- Public opinion shifted dramatically following the publication of the report, leading to widespread calls for policy reform.

### 2. professional advice

noun · CEFR B1

the formal advice or judgment given by an expert, such as a doctor or a lawyer.

For teachers: a formal statement of advice or judgment given by an expert or professional body.

- The doctor gave me a second opinion before I decided on the surgery.
- The firm requested a formal legal opinion to ensure the merger complied with international competition laws.

### 3. legal ruling

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal explanation by a judge about a decision in a court of law.

For teachers: a formal written statement by a judge or court which explains the reasons for a decision.

- The Supreme Court issued its opinion on the case early this morning.
- The dissenting opinion argued that the statute was unconstitutionally vague and should be struck down in its entirety.

## Examples

- In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in town.
- The committee asked for a second opinion before they made a final decision on the new budget.
- While the public's opinion remains divided on the issue, the judge's written opinion provided a clear legal framework for future cases of this nature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.