public opinion

American  

noun

1. the collective opinion of many people on some issue, problem, etc., especially as a guide to action, decision, or the like.

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public opinion British  

noun

1. the attitude of the public, esp as a factor in determining the actions of government

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Etymology

Origin of public opinion

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public opinion

Some polls have sought to measure public opinion of the SpaceX founder, with one YouGov tracker monitoring his favourability in the US, external and UK on a quarterly basis.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Hideya Kawanishi, a professor at Nagoya University and expert in Japan's emperor system, told AFP that the new bill "fails to reflect public opinion".

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Anything he sings can and might be used against him in the court of public opinion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

At the time, Elmore was working at a think tank funded by effective altruists, and wanted to see more done to sway public opinion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The abolitionists were brilliant at using advertising and marketing to turn public opinion against slavery.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson