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opinion
/əˈpɪnjən/
A subjective perspective that contrasts with objective fact. It carries a sense of personal preference or interpretation, often implying that the statement is open to debate rather than being an absolute truth. In casual contexts, it suggests a whim or a bias. In professional settings—such as law or medicine—it shifts toward 'expert opinion,' where the word denotes a high-level synthesis of experience and evidence, though it remains a judgment rather than a mathematical certainty. Compared to 'belief,' an opinion is often more flexible and less tied to identity or faith; it is something one can change after hearing a new argument.
Countable when referring to a specific judgment or a professional's verdict ('I sought a second opinion'). Uncountable when referring to the general act of holding a belief or the quality of having a viewpoint ('Opinion is divided on the matter').