opinione

Opinione is a noun in Italian that denotes a belief, judgment, or view held about a matter. It can express a personal standpoint, a reasoned assessment, or a general sentiment, and it emphasizes subjectivity rather than proven fact. An opinion may be supported by reasons or evidence, but it does not claim universal truth.

Etymology: from Latin opinio, opinonis, from opinari to think or suppose. It has cognates in many languages, including English opinion, French opinion, and Spanish opinión.

Usage: An opinion can be stated personally, as in "La mia opinione è che...," or it can refer to a broader view as "l'opinione pubblica" (public opinion). The term is widely used in journalism to distinguish commentary from reporting; "articolo di opinione" or "colonna di opinione" signals subjective analysis rather than objective news.

Philosophical and cultural context: In philosophy, an opinion is a belief held with varying degrees of justification. The distinction between opinion and knowledge or justification is a recurring theme in epistemology and debate. In everyday language, opinions can be influenced by culture, experience, and bias, yet they can change with new information.

See also: public opinion, opinion poll, belief, knowledge, epistemology.