public opinion

noun

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

public opinion

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of public opinion¹

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

“The big thing that we find, not surprisingly, is that Democrats and Republicans look really different,” said political scientist Amy Lerman, director of UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, who studies race, public opinion and political behavior.

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This wasn’t the first time public opinion exploded over when Thanksgiving should occur.

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But then public opinion shifted against the tax in recent decades.

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The longer it went on, their argument ran, the more Democrats were likely to win the battle for public opinion.

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But at the height of success, the lifestyle of tour bus toilets, hotel room pizzas and public opinion began to take its toll.

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