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.

Once stuck in the single-digits in public opinion polls with a handful of other Democratic candidates, Becerra rose quickly and unexpectedly following the political demise of former Rep. Eric Swalwell.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Our research builds on decades of work showing that public opinion is strongly influenced by media consumption.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

The pope could keep moving the anti-AI needle, as the head of the Catholic Church often can shift public opinion.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

White-collar workers worry about their job prospects as the technology’s capabilities rapidly improve, and in the U.S., public opinion about AI is quickly souring.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Throughout most of our nation’s history—from the days of the abolitionist movement through the Civil Rights Movement—racial justice advocacy has generally revolved around grassroots organizing and the strategic mobilization of public opinion.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander