opinion

The word “opinion” means a belief or judgment that someone holds about a subject, not necessarily based on proven fact. In plain terms, what someone personally thinks or believes, which may differ from established fact.

“Opinion” is pronounced uh-PIHN-yuhn (/əˈpɪn.jən/ in IPA).

Here is “opinion” used in a sentence: “In my opinion, the film was overrated.”

“Opinion” is a noun.

The word “opinion” comes from Latin. From Latin opinio, from opinor, "to think or suppose" — it displaced the native Old English word wena.

“Opinion” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Opinion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a belief or judgment that someone holds about a subject, not necessarily based on proven fact.

A fact is something that can be proven true or false with evidence — water boils at 100°C at sea level. An opinion is a personal belief or judgment that need not be provable, like saying a film is boring. Facts stay the same for everyone; opinions vary from person to person.

The two overlap. A belief is something you hold to be true, often deeply and about big questions. An opinion is usually a lighter, more particular judgment about a specific matter — a view you could easily change. Beliefs tend to feel fundamental; opinions are more casual and changeable.

An opinion is a personal judgment, so it is not 'wrong' in the way a false fact is. But opinions can be poorly informed, unfair, or contradicted by evidence. A view that ignores clear facts is often called a bad or uninformed opinion, even if the person is entitled to hold it.

Saying 'summer is the best season' is an opinion — others may reasonably disagree. So is 'this restaurant is overpriced' or 'the book was disappointing'. Each expresses a personal judgment rather than a provable fact, which is why people can hold opposite opinions without either being strictly wrong.