Definitions

public opinion

NOUN

common belief

Synonyms

WEAK

climate of opinion community sentiment consensus gentium conventional wisdom general belief group pressure popular belief prevailing belief prevailing sentiment public belief social pressure special-interest pressure vox pop vox populi

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He is prevented by law in France from running for a third term, while she has never looked so strong in public opinion polls.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

As the Vietnam War accelerated, graphic images such as “Saigon Execution” and “Napalm Girl” did much to sway public opinion and pushed the boundaries of what had previously been acceptable to print.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

According to our research, public opinion in Idaho is more nuanced than the right-left divide suggests.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026

The ascendancy of AI, however, is not having the same effect on broader public opinion.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 27, 2026

Wildly exaggerated accounts of German atrocities inflamed public opinion and bolstered support for a war that was increasingly seen as a crusade against barbaric German militarism.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman