point of view

American  

[point uhv vyoo] / ˈpɔɪnt əv ˈvyu /

noun

1. a specified or stated manner of consideration or appraisal; standpoint: POV

   from the point of view of a doctor.

2. an opinion, attitude, or judgment: POV

   He refuses to change his point of view in the matter.

3. the position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator's outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters. POV

4. Movies. a method of shooting a scene or film that expresses the attitude of the director or writer toward the material or of a character in a scene. POV

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point of view British  

noun

1. a position from which someone or something is observed

2. a mental viewpoint or attitude

3. the mental position from which a story is observed or narrated

   the omniscient point of view

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point of view Idioms  

1. An attitude or standpoint, how one sees or thinks of something. For example, From the manufacturer's point of view, the critical issue is cost. This expression, originally alluding to one's vantage point in seeing a building or painting or other object, dates from the early 1700s.

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Etymology

Origin of point of view

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

Enlargement "is very important from a geopolitical point of view, because this region is also where Europe's independence is at stake in terms of energy, security and migration routes," Macron said.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

“We looked at all our surroundings and said, ‘What does this look like from a stylistic point of view?’

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

From every imaginable point of view, the story of the Cuban revolution is a tragedy.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

This technique allows astronomers to study starlight that passes through a planet's atmosphere while the planet moves across the face of its star from the telescope's point of view.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

If you look at it from the right point of view, lying is just good manners.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• angle
• attitude
• opinion
• orientation
• outlook
• perspective
• position
• standpoint