Which term refers to the public's perception or belief about something or someone?

The term that refers to the public's perception or belief about something or someone is reputation. Reputation encompasses how an individual or organization is viewed by others based on their actions, behavior, and outcomes over time. It is built through experiences, interactions, and engagement and can significantly affect how stakeholders, customers, and the broader community respond to or associate with that entity.

While credibility relates to the trustworthiness or reliability of someone or something, it does not encompass the broader perception that is conveyed through reputation. Similarly, image focuses on how an organization or person wishes to be perceived, which can be different from the actual reputation formed in the public's mind. Influence pertains to the power to affect decisions or actions of others, which is often a result of one's reputation but is not itself a perception or belief. Therefore, reputation is the appropriate term for describing the public's overall belief or perception.