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noun C1 Advanced Common

sentiment

SEHN-tih-muhnt

Sentiment (noun) means an opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something. Example: “Public sentiment turned against the new tax.”

noun
1
An opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something.
"Public sentiment turned against the new tax."
2
A tender or emotional feeling, sometimes seen as excessive.
"The old photo album was full of sentiment."

How to use sentiment

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA general feeling, opinion, or attitude — or, more emotionally, a tender feeling.

Common pairings
public sentiment market sentiment a sense of sentiment

Word forms

sentiments plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Public _____ turned against the new tax.

Etymology

From Old French sentement, from Latin sentimentum, related to sentiō, "to feel."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for sentiment

See all rhymes for sentiment →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sentiment” mean?

The word “sentiment” means an opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something. In plain terms, a general feeling, opinion, or attitude — or, more emotionally, a tender feeling.

How do you pronounce “sentiment”?

“Sentiment” is pronounced SEHN-tih-muhnt (/ˈsɛn.tɪ.mənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “sentiment” in a sentence?

Here is “sentiment” used in a sentence: “Public sentiment turned against the new tax.”

What part of speech is “sentiment”?

“Sentiment” is a noun.

Where does the word “sentiment” come from?

The word “sentiment” comes from Latin. From Old French sentement, from Latin sentimentum, related to sentiō, "to feel.".

Is “sentiment” a common word?

“Sentiment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “sentiment” have?

“Sentiment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something.

What is the difference between sentiment and sentimentality?

A sentiment is an opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something, and the word is neutral. Sentimentality is the noun for tender or emotional feeling taken to excess. You might share a speaker's sentiments but criticize a film's sentimentality.

What is the difference between sentiment and feeling?

A feeling is any emotion or sensation, while a sentiment is usually a feeling that has settled into an opinion or attitude about something, as in "anti-war sentiment." Sentiment is also the more formal word and often describes attitudes held by groups rather than raw individual emotion.

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