PUBLIC OPINION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does public opinion mean? 

• PUBLIC OPINION (noun)
  The noun PUBLIC OPINION has 1 sense:

1. a belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people

  Familiarity information: PUBLIC OPINION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUBLIC OPINION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

opinion; popular opinion; public opinion; vox populi

Context example:

he asked for a poll of public opinion

Hypernyms ("public opinion" is a kind of...):

belief (any cognitive content held as true)

 Context examples 

Public opinion was then largely in its favour, and there were good reasons why it should be so.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But the novel disaster quenched her courage for a time, for public opinion is a giant which has frightened stouter-hearted Jacks on bigger beanstalks than hers.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No trace has ever been found of the great dog; at which there is much mourning, for, with public opinion in its present state, he would, I believe, be adopted by the town.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Thus, he considered the lover blessed over all creatures, and it was a delight to him to think of God's own mad lover, rising above the things of earth, above wealth and judgment, public opinion and applause, rising above life itself and dying on a kiss.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

My aunt, who was perfectly indifferent to public opinion, drove the grey pony through Dover in a masterly manner; sitting high and stiff like a state coachman, keeping a steady eye upon him wherever he went, and making a point of not letting him have his own way in any respect.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He had strong feelings of family attachment and family honour, without pride or weakness; he lived with the liberality of a man of fortune, without display; he judged for himself in everything essential, without defying public opinion in any point of worldly decorum.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Public opinion has gradually become opposed to it, for the reason that it came largely into the hands of rogues, and because it fostered ringside ruffianism.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then came the hours of suspense, during which she vibrated from parlor to porch, while public opinion varied like the weathercock.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In time of peace also the rules of the ring had been of service in enforcing the principles of fair play, and in turning public opinion against that use of the knife or of the boot which was so common in foreign countries.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)