Definition

Noun The legal opinion or ruling in a court case that is agreed upon by more than half of the judges or justices hearing the case. It represents the official decision and reasoning of the court and sets a binding precedent for future cases.

Usage

The term "majority opinion" is used primarily in legal contexts, especially when discussing decisions made by appellate courts or supreme courts where multiple judges deliberate. It is the central document that states the court's final judgment and the legal principles supporting it.

Examples

• The Supreme Court's majority opinion in that landmark case established a new interpretation of the law.
• To understand the court's ruling, you must read the majority opinion written by the Chief Justice.
• The judge disagreed with the reasoning in the majority opinion and wrote a separate dissenting opinion.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "to join the majority opinion" means for a judge to formally agree with and sign onto the opinion written by another justice.
• In common parlance, "majority opinion" is sometimes used more loosely outside of strict legal settings to refer to the prevailing view among a group of people, though this is an extended, non-technical use.

Variants and Related Words

• Opinion (Court Opinion): The general term for a judge's written explanation for a decision. The majority opinion is one type.
• Plurality Opinion: An opinion that receives the most votes but not a majority (over half) of the judges' votes. It is not a true majority opinion.
• Per Curiam Opinion: A court opinion issued in the name of the entire court rather than authored by a specific judge. It can be a majority opinion.

Synonyms

• Ruling Opinion
• Court's Opinion (when it is the majority decision)
• Prevailing Opinion

Antonyms

• Dissenting Opinion (or Dissent): An opinion written by a judge who disagrees with the majority's decision.
• Concurring Opinion (or Concurrence): An opinion written by a judge who agrees with the majority's final judgment but for different legal reasons.

Noun

1. the opinion joined by a majority of the court (generally known simply as `the opinion')