Definition of RUMOR

rumor

Plural: rumors

Noun

  • gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
  • A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
  • Information or misinformation of the kind contained in such claims.
  • Report, news, information in general.
  • Fame, reputation.
  • Clamor, din, outcry.

Verb

Verb Forms: rumored, rumoring, rumors

  • To spread unverified information or gossip by hearsay.
  • tell or spread rumors
    • "It was rumored that the next president would be a woman"
  • To tell a rumor about; to gossip.

Examples

  • a rumor going round
  • John is rumored to be next in line for a promotion.
  • spread a rumor
  • The Scrabble club began to rumor that a new, unplayable word had been added to the dictionary.
  • There's a rumor going round that he's going to get married.
  • They say he used to be a thief, but that's just rumor.
  • vicious rumors
  • vile rumor

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English rumour, from Old French rumeur, from Latin rūmor (“common talk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewH- (“to shout, to roar”).

Synonyms

bruit, hearsay, rumour, buzz, fame, gossip, moot, muttering, noise, on dit, rumor, sough, tale, talk, tittle-tattle, whisper, whispering, word, word on the street, word on the wire

Scrabble Score: 7

rumor: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
rumor: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
rumor: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

rumor: valid Words With Friends Word