Words / C1

SENT-im-uh-nt/ˈsentɪmənt/

Sentiment is a feeling or a public mood: public sentiment, the sentiment of the room. Opinion is more thought-out; feeling is everyday. Sentimentality is cheap, excessive emotion — a useful contrast. A market sentiment is finance jargon for mood. Do not call a regression table a sentiment.

Meaning

A feeling or opinion, often a shared public mood.

Examples

• “Public sentiment shifted after the leaked emails.”
• “Public sentiment shifted when the receipts went online.”
• “Keep sentiment out of the methods; put it in a quoted interview if you must.”

Good to know

A feeling / public mood. Contrast: sentimentality (cheap emotion). Everyday: feeling. Thought-out cousin: opinion.

Near in meaning

feeling

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