An opinion is a personal view or judgement about something, not necessarily based on fact; it can also mean a professional assessment given by an expert, such as a doctor or lawyer.
What Does Opinion Mean?
Opinion comes from Latin opinio meaning "belief" or "conjecture". In everyday English it describes what you personally think or believe about a topic — a view that others may or may not share. Unlike a fact, an opinion cannot be objectively proved true or false.
The word appears in countless everyday situations: sharing views in conversation ("In my opinion…"), writing essays ("It is my opinion that…"), seeking professional advice ("I need a second opinion"), and discussing public attitudes ("Public opinion has changed"). Mastering opinion and its collocations will strengthen both your speaking and writing significantly.
In more formal or professional contexts, an opinion can also be an official statement of expert judgement — a legal opinion from a barrister, or a medical opinion from a specialist. This sense is closer to "assessment" or "evaluation".
Etymology
The same Latin root gives us opine (to formally state an opinion), opinionated (stubbornly attached to one's views), and the rare opinionate. The stem opin- is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₃ep- meaning "to choose" or "to prefer".
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| In my opinion, this book is very good. | A2 — opinion as introductory phrase |
| In my opinion, speaking practice is just as important as grammar study. | B1 — opinion contrasting two ideas |
| She decided to get a second opinion before agreeing to the surgery. | B1 — professional / medical opinion |
| Public opinion shifted significantly after the government's announcement. | B2 — opinion as uncountable collective noun |
| The barrister was asked to furnish a written opinion on the admissibility of the evidence. | C1 — formal / legal register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| in my opinion | In my opinion, consistency is the key to language learning. |
| express an opinion | Students were encouraged to express their opinions freely. |
| give an opinion | Could you give me your honest opinion on this essay? |
| hold an opinion | She holds the opinion that grammar should be taught implicitly. |
| form an opinion | It is important to form your own opinion rather than follow the crowd. |
| strong opinion | He has very strong opinions about pronunciation teaching. |
| public opinion | Public opinion polls showed majority support for the new policy. |
| second opinion | I always recommend getting a second opinion for major decisions. |
| share an opinion | Please share your opinion on the topic with a partner. |
| professional opinion | In my professional opinion, the student is ready for the C1 exam. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
- Opinion phrases: The most common way to introduce an opinion is in my opinion (more formal) or I think / I believe (more casual). Do not combine them: say either "In my opinion, it is wrong" or "I think it is wrong" — not both together.
- Countable vs uncountable: Use the plural opinions when referring to different specific views ("people have different opinions"). Use the singular uncountable when talking about opinion as a general concept ("a matter of opinion", "public opinion").
- Formal alternatives: In academic writing, prefer in my view, it is my contention that, or I would argue that over I think.
- Professional usage: When a professional gives an opinion, it means a formal, expert-based assessment — not just a casual feeling.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
In my opinion, I think that speaking is the hardest skill.
In my opinion, speaking is the hardest skill. (do not combine "in my opinion" with "I think")
According to my opinion, the answer is wrong.
In my opinion, the answer is wrong. ("According to my opinion" is non-standard; use "in my opinion")
She gave me a very useful advise and opinion.
She gave me very useful advice and her opinion. (advice is uncountable; separate the two nouns clearly)