Meinungs

Meinungs is a bound form used in the German language as a prefix to denote relations to opinions. It is not a standalone noun in ordinary usage; instead, it attaches to other nouns to form compounds that describe matters of belief, view, or public sentiment. The base noun is Meinung, meaning opinion or view, and the suffix -s in Meinungs- functions as a genitive-derived linking element that signals a topic connected to opinions.

Common examples of Meinungs- compounds are Meinungsfreiheit (freedom of opinion or expression), Meinungsäußerung (expression of opinion), Meinungsumfrage (opinion poll), Meinungsbildung (formation of opinion), Meinungsforschung (opinion research), and Meinungsverschiedenheit (difference of opinion). These formations are widespread in political, media, legal, and sociological discourse, where discussions center on how people think, what they believe, or how public sentiment shapes decisions.

In legal and political contexts, compounds with Meinungs- often appear in debates about rights, policy, and democratic participation. For instance, Meinungsfreiheit is a fundamental concept in constitutional law in German-speaking areas, typically translated as freedom of expression. The prefix thus helps categorize and standardize terminology related to opinions without repeating the noun Meinung itself.

Notes for translators and learners: Meinungen (plural) remains the ordinary plural of Meinung; Meinungs- is the productive prefix used to form related terms. Understanding this prefix helps interpret a wide range of German terms concerned with opinion, attitude, and public response.