Meaning & use
diversity of opinion
Last updated
Meaning
phraseuncountable
the situation in which people have different views or beliefs about something.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable phrase: there is diversity of opinion, not 'a diversity of opinion' when meaning the general state.
Patterns
- diversity of opinion on something
- diversity of opinion among someone
- a diversity of opinions
There is a healthy diversity of opinion on how to reform the education system.
The committee encouraged diversity of opinion among its members.
A diversity of opinions can lead to better decisions.
Common combinations
- encourage diversity of opinion
- The chair encouraged diversity of opinion during the debate.
- a diversity of opinion on
- There is a diversity of opinion on the new policy.
- respect diversity of opinion
- A good leader respects diversity of opinion.
- wide diversity of opinion
- The survey revealed a wide diversity of opinion.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disagreement
- Disagreement focuses on conflict; diversity of opinion is neutral and stresses the value of different views.
- pluralism
- Pluralism is a more formal, technical term for a society with many different views.
Opposites
Commonly confused: diversity of opinion or diversity?
diversity of opinion vs diversity
Diversity alone often refers to differences in race, culture, or gender; diversity of opinion specifically means different viewpoints.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'diversity of opinion' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option B correctly uses the phrase to mean different views on a topic. Option A confuses it with 'diversity of students', option C is nonsensical, and option D uses the phrase as a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diversity of opinion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.