Meaning & use
personal beliefs
Last updated
Meanings
nounplural
The set of ideas and values that a person accepts as true or right, shaping how they live and decide.
Grammar: Plural noun phrase; takes a plural verb: Personal beliefs are important to her.
Patterns
- someone's personal beliefs
- hold personal beliefs
- personal beliefs about something
- respect someone's personal beliefs
Her personal beliefs about honesty guide every business deal she makes.
He never forces his personal beliefs on his friends, even when he disagrees with them.
The school teaches students to respect other people's personal beliefs.
nounplural
A particular conviction held by an individual, often different from official or group opinion.
Grammar: Often used in contrast with public or official views: personal beliefs versus company policy.
Patterns
- personal beliefs and values
- conflict with personal beliefs
- based on personal beliefs
- someone's personal beliefs
The doctor explained that she could not act against her personal beliefs.
His personal beliefs led him to volunteer every weekend.
They had a long conversation about how personal beliefs shape political choices.
Common combinations
- hold personal beliefs
- Many people hold personal beliefs that they rarely discuss in public.
- personal beliefs about
- Her personal beliefs about family are very traditional.
- respect someone's personal beliefs
- A good teacher respects every student's personal beliefs.
- personal beliefs and values
- The course explores how personal beliefs and values affect leadership.
- conflict with personal beliefs
- Some tasks at work may conflict with your personal beliefs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- convictions
- Convictions suggests strong, firmly held beliefs, often moral or religious; personal beliefs can be milder or more general.
- values
- Values are the principles you think are important in life, while personal beliefs are what you accept as true; the two often overlap.
- principles
- Principles are rules for good behavior that a person follows; personal beliefs describe a wider set of ideas about what is true.
Word family
- personal belief noun
- One single conviction held by an individual.
- believe verb
- To accept that something is true or real.
- believer noun
- A person who accepts a particular idea or religion.
Commonly confused: personal beliefs or personal opinion?
personal beliefs vs personal opinion
A personal opinion is a view or judgment about something, while personal beliefs are deeper ideas about what is true or right; an opinion can be about a film, but a belief is usually about life or values.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The headword is a plural noun phrase, so it takes the plural verb 'are'. Option A uses 'is' with a plural subject; option C mixes a singular noun with a plural verb; option D uses 'am', which only goes with 'I'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “personal beliefs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.