Ask Difference

Opinion vs. Judgment — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 19, 2023
Opinion is a personal belief or viewpoint; judgment is a conclusion based on facts or reasoning.
Opinion vs. Judgment — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Opinion and Judgment

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Key Differences

Opinion often signifies a person's individual beliefs, feelings, or thoughts about a subject. These can be shaped by personal experiences, emotions, or perceptions. On the other hand, judgment implies a reasoned decision, often formed after analysis or deliberation.
An opinion is usually subjective in nature, meaning it may not be based on empirical evidence or factual information. It can change based on new experiences or knowledge. Judgment, conversely, suggests a more definitive stance, based on objective evaluation and consideration of available evidence.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion on various matters, not all opinions are viewed as being equally valid or informed. In contrast, judgment, especially in formal contexts like legal decisions, is expected to follow a rigorous process of evaluation and to be based on credible evidence or standards.
In everyday discourse, the words "opinion" and "judgment" might be used interchangeably, but the distinction becomes crucial in contexts that require precision, like legal, academic, or professional settings. Here, an opinion might be seen as a preliminary view, while a judgment is the final verdict.
Often, we ask for people's opinions when we want to understand their personal perspectives or feelings on a matter. However, when we seek judgment, we are typically looking for a decision or conclusion based on expertise, knowledge, or thorough assessment.
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Comparison Chart

Nature

Subjective belief or viewpoint
Conclusion based on reasoning or facts

Basis

Personal experiences, emotions
Objective evaluation, credible evidence

Stability

Can change with new experiences or knowledge
More definitive, based on standards

Expectation in formal context

Preliminary view
Final verdict

Sought for

Understanding personal perspective or feelings
Decision or conclusion based on expertise

Compare with Definitions

Opinion

An opinion is a judgement, viewpoint, or statement that is not conclusive, rather than facts, which are true statements.

Judgment

A misfortune viewed as a divine punishment.
The flood was seen as a judgment for their sins.

Opinion

A personal belief not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Judgment

An act of deciding a matter or forming a conclusion.
He made a quick judgment based on the facts presented.

Opinion

A viewpoint or attitude toward a particular issue.
Her opinion on climate change is quite strong.

Judgment

The ability to make considered decisions.
Her good judgment saved them from a disaster.

Opinion

A statement of advice by an expert.
The doctor gave his opinion on the best treatment option.

Judgment

The forming of an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing.
His judgment of the situation was based on years of experience.

Opinion

That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or action.
Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of incertainty or doubting.
I can not put off my opinion so easily.

Judgment

A legal determination by a court or judge.
The court's judgment was in favor of the plaintiff.

Opinion

The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a counselor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.

Judgment

The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation.

Opinion

To opine.

Judgment

An opinion or estimate formed after consideration or deliberation, especially a formal or authoritative decision
Awaited the judgment of the umpire.

Opinion

A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying

Judgment

The mental ability to perceive and distinguish relationships; discernment
Fatigue may affect a pilot's judgment of distances.

Opinion

An estimation or appraisal of something's value or quality.
In my opinion, this is the best movie of the year.

Judgment

The capacity to form an opinion by distinguishing and evaluating
His judgment of fine music is impeccable.

Opinion

A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof
"The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion" (Elizabeth Drew).

Judgment

The capacity to assess situations or circumstances and draw sound conclusions; good sense
She showed good judgment in saving her money.

Opinion

A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert
A medical opinion.

Judgment

A determination of a court of law; a judicial decision.

Opinion

A judgment or estimation of the merit of a person or thing
Has a low opinion of braggarts.

Judgment

A court decision establishing that an obligation is owed, such as a debt.

Opinion

The prevailing view
Public opinion.

Judgment

A misfortune believed to be sent by God as punishment for sin.

Opinion

A court's formal, usually written statement explaining its reasons for its decision in a case.

Judgment

Judgment The Last Judgment.

Opinion

The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.

Judgment

The act of judging.

Opinion

(obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.

Judgment

The power or faculty of performing such operations; especially, when unqualified, the faculty of judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely
A man of judgment / a man of good judgment
A politician without judgment

Opinion

(obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.

Judgment

The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.

Opinion

The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.

Judgment

(legal) The act of determining, as in courts of law, what is conformable to law and justice; also, the determination, decision, or sentence of a court, or of a judge.

Opinion

(European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible

Judgment

(theology) The final award; the last sentence.

Opinion

To have or express as an opinion.

Judgment

The act of judging; the operation of the mind, involving comparison and discrimination, by which a knowledge of the values and relations of things, whether of moral qualities, intellectual concepts, logical propositions, or material facts, is obtained; as, by careful judgment he avoided the peril; by a series of wrong judgments he forfeited confidence.
I oughte deme, of skilful jugement,That in the salte sea my wife is deed.

Opinion

Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.

Judgment

The power or faculty of performing such operations (see 1); esp., when unqualified, the faculty of judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely; good sense; as, a man of judgment; a politician without judgment.
He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment.
Hernia. I would my father look'd but with my eyes.Theseus. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.

Opinion

A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty;
My opinion differs from yours
What are your thoughts on Haiti?

Judgment

The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.
She in my judgment was as fair as you.
Who first his judgment asked, and then a place.

Opinion

A belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people;
He asked for a poll of public opinion

Judgment

The act of determining, as in courts of law, what is conformable to law and justice; also, the determination, decision, or sentence of a court, or of a judge; the mandate or sentence of God as the judge of all.
In judgments between rich and poor, consider not what the poor man needs, but what is his own.
Most heartily I do beseech the courtTo give the judgment.

Opinion

A message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof;
His opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page

Judgment

That act of the mind by which two notions or ideas which are apprehended as distinct are compared for the purpose of ascertaining their agreement or disagreement. See 1. The comparison may be threefold: (1) Of individual objects forming a concept. (2) Of concepts giving what is technically called a judgment. (3) Of two judgments giving an inference. Judgments have been further classed as analytic, synthetic, and identical.
A judgment is the mental act by which one thing is affirmed or denied of another.
The power by which we are enabled to perceive what is true or false, probable or improbable, is called by logicians the faculty of judgment.

Opinion

The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge

Judgment

A calamity regarded as sent by God, by way of recompense for wrong committed; a providential punishment.

Opinion

An attorney's formal, usually written statement giving an assessment of how the law should be or is likely to be applied in a particular situation.

Judgment

The final award; the last sentence.

Opinion

A piece of testimony that is not usually admissible when given by a layperson, as in contrast to an opinion given by an expert witness.

Judgment

An opinion formed by judging something;
He was reluctant to make his judgment known
She changed her mind

Opinion

A belief, judgment or perspective that a person has formed, either through objective or subjective reasoning, about a topic, issue, person or thing.
I would like to know your opinions on the new filing system.
In my opinion, white chocolate is better than milk chocolate.
Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.
We invite you to state your opinions about the suggestions.

Judgment

The act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event;
They criticized my judgment of the contestants

Opinion

The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.
Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
However, I have no opinion of those things.

Judgment

(law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it

Opinion

Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion.
This gained Agricola much opinion, who . . . had made such early progress into laborious . . . enterprises.

Judgment

The cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions

Opinion

The reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)

Judgment

The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge

Opinion

A subjective thought influenced by individual feelings.
Your taste in music is just an opinion, not a fact.

Judgment

The capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusions

Judgment

Ability to make good judgments

Common Curiosities

Is a judgment final?

In many contexts like legal decisions, a judgment is considered the final verdict. However, judgments can sometimes be appealed or reconsidered.

How does expertise influence judgment?

Expertise typically provides a person with a deeper knowledge base and analytical skills, leading to more informed and reasoned judgments.

Is an opinion always based on facts?

No, an opinion is often a personal belief that might not be based on empirical evidence or factual information.

What's the relationship between opinion and bias?

An opinion can be influenced by personal biases, making it a subjective viewpoint on a particular matter.

Can opinions change?

Yes, opinions can change based on new experiences, knowledge, or shifts in personal beliefs.

Why might two experts have differing opinions?

Two experts might have different opinions due to varied experiences, perspectives, or interpretations of the same data.

Can judgment be subjective?

While judgment aims to be objective, personal biases can sometimes influence a person's judgment, making it subjective.

Is every opinion valid?

Everyone has a right to their opinion, but not all opinions are informed or based on facts.

Why is judgment important in decision-making?

Judgment is crucial in decision-making because it involves evaluating available evidence and forming a conclusion based on reasoned analysis.

Can one's judgment be flawed?

Yes, while judgment aims for objectivity, it can sometimes be influenced by biases, misinformation, or incomplete understanding.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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