rumor

Word family

• rumored
  adjectiveB2
• rumormonger
  nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Rumor, gossip, hearsay, and speculation all refer to information that may not be reliable, but each has a different focus. Rumor is the broadest term — it describes unverified stories passed from person to person, whether about public events or private lives. Gossip is more personal and informal; it usually involves talk about other people's private affairs, often with a judgmental tone. Hearsay is a formal or legal word; it refers to information heard from someone else rather than from direct knowledge, and it is not accepted as evidence in court. Speculation is the most neutral — it focuses on guessing or forming opinions without solid evidence, without implying that the information is being actively spread. For example: 'The rumor about the merger turned out to be false' vs. 'Gossip about the boss's marriage filled the break room' vs. 'The judge told the jury to ignore hearsay' vs. 'There was widespread speculation about the election results.'

Common collocations

Etymology

Rumor comes from the Latin word 'rumor', meaning 'common talk, noise, or gossip'. It entered English through Old French 'rumour' in the 14th century. The Latin root may be related to the verb 'ravere', meaning 'to roar or make noise', suggesting that rumor was originally imagined as a kind of sound spreading through a crowd.