court of public opinion
Society's collective verdict
The court of public opinion is the collective judgment of ordinary people rather than legal or official authorities.
When someone is tried in the court of public opinion, their reputation rises or falls based on what people generally think, regardless of formal proceedings: He was acquitted by the jury but convicted in the court of public opinion.
The phrase often implies that public sentiment operates by different rules than institutional judgment—faster, less bound by evidence, and sometimes harsher.
- mass mediaLarge-scale communication channels
- online mobCoordinated digital harassment group
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- virtue signalingShowy ethical posturing
societal norms · gossip · mob mentality · smear · journalism · outrage · debate · accountability · cancel culture · scandal · defense · news cycles · viral outrage · propaganda · hot take · misinformation · trial by media · fairness
court of public opinioncourt of law
Judicial body for disputes
legal proceeding · court of justice · criminal court · civil court · tribunal
court, courts, courted, courting, courtly, courtier, courtiers, courtesy, courteous