What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
emotion
Example
She felt a surge of emotion when she saw her childhood home. [emotion: noun]
Example
He struggled to control his emotions during the sad movie. [emotions: plural noun]
sentiment
Example
The sentiment towards the new policy was generally negative. [sentiment: noun]
Example
Her sentimental attachment to her childhood toys made it hard to part with them. [sentimental: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Emotion is more commonly used in everyday language than sentiment. Emotion is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while sentiment is more often used in formal or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between emotion and sentiment?
Sentiment is generally considered more formal than emotion. It is often used in academic or professional settings to describe collective attitudes or opinions, while emotion is more commonly used in informal or personal contexts.
