Cool MateOpinion vs Sentiment
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Opinion
Sentiment
| Opinion | Sentiment | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈpɪnjən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpɪnjən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsentɪmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsentɪmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | What you think about something. | A feeling or emotion about something. |
| Example | In my opinion, the movie was fantastic. | The overall sentiment of the article was positive, highlighting the benefits of the new policy. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | good, high, low, have, hold, air, change, differ, vary, piece, in your opinion, opinion about, opinion on, be of the opinion that…, a difference of opinion, in my humble opinion, prevailing, general, popular, body, mould/mold, shape, sway, be against something, be in favour/favor of something, be divided, poll, former, leader, opinion among, climate of opinion, shades of opinion | deep, strong, growing, express, voice, agree with, run, sentiments about, sentiments on, sentiment against, I, we, etc. appreciate the sentiment, my sentiments exactly, deep, strong, growing, express, voice, agree with, run, sentiments about, sentiments on, sentiment against, I, we, etc. appreciate the sentiment, my sentiments exactly |
| Antonyms | fact, certainty, truth | indifference, apathy, disregard |
| Common mistakes | 'Opinion' is often confused with 'view' or 'idea', but it’s more about personal belief., Saying 'in my opinion' too frequently can make writing sound repetitive., 'Opinion' is countable, so use 'an opinion' not 'a opinion'. | Confused with 'sentimentality', which implies excessive emotions., Using 'sentiment' as a verb; it's only a noun., Mixing up with 'emotion' which is broader. |
| Usage notes | Use 'opinion' when discussing thoughts or views. It’s neutral and suits most situations but may be too informal for formal essays. | Use this word when discussing feelings or opinions, especially in contexts like psychology or marketing. It is less common in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Opinion vs Sentiment
What's the difference between Opinion and Sentiment?
Opinion: What you think about something. Sentiment: A feeling or emotion about something.
Which is more common: Opinion and Sentiment?
Opinion is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Opinion and Sentiment?
Sentiment is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Opinion and Sentiment the same CEFR level?
Opinion: A1, Sentiment: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Opinion and Sentiment?
Opinion: noun, Sentiment: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Opinion: In my opinion, the movie was fantastic. Sentiment: The overall sentiment of the article was positive, highlighting the benefits of the new policy.
Can I use Opinion and Sentiment interchangeably?
Not always. Opinion and Sentiment are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.