gossip
Americannoun
-
idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.
the endless gossip about Hollywood stars.
- Synonyms:
- chitchat, palaver, hearsay, small talk
-
light, familiar talk or writing.
-
Also gossiper, gossipper. a person given to tattling or idle talk.
- Synonyms:
- rumormonger, chatterer
-
Chiefly British Dialect. a godparent.
-
Archaic. a friend, especially a woman.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
Chiefly British Dialect. to stand godparent to.
-
Archaic. to repeat like a gossip.
noun
-
casual and idle chat
to have a gossip with a friend
-
a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumours about other people
a gossip about the neighbours
-
Also called: gossipmonger. a person who habitually talks about others, esp maliciously
-
light easy communication
to write a letter full of gossip
-
archaic a close woman friend
verb
Synonym Usage
Gossip, scandal apply to idle talk and newsmongering about the affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors. Scandal is rumor or general talk that is damaging to reputation; it is usually more or less malicious: The town never lived down the election scandal.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
gossipingnoun
-
gossipernoun
-
ungossipingadjective
-
gossipinglyadverb
-
gossipyadjective
-
intergossipverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has gossippedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has gossipedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have gossipedperfect
-
have gossippedperfect
-
has been gossipingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am gossipingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is gossipingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are gossippingprogressive
-
is gossippingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been gossippingperfect progressive
-
have been gossipingperfect progressive
-
has been gossippingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are gossipingprogressive
-
gossipingparticiple
-
gossipssingular 3rd person
-
am gossippingprogressive 1st person singular
-
gossippingparticiple
Past
-
had gossipedperfect
-
had gossippedperfect
-
had been gossipingperfect progressive
-
was gossippingprogressive singular
-
had been gossippingperfect progressive
-
was gossipingprogressive singular
-
gossipedparticiple
-
gossippedsimple
-
were gossippingprogressive plural
-
were gossipingprogressive plural
-
gossippedparticiple
-
gossipedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of gossip
First recorded before 1050; Middle English gossib, godsib(be), Old English godsibb, originally “godparent,” equivalent to god + sibb “related”; see origin at god, sib
Explanation
Gossip is conversation that's light, informal, and usually about other people's business. It can be fun to gossip about others, but no one likes it when they're the subject of gossip. You can find people just about anywhere who love to chatter about the latest rumors and stories: they're gossips who love to gossip. You've probably seen all the celebrity gossip featured in the tabloids: stories about who's dating, marrying, divorcing, or having a baby. But don't trust everything you hear — gossip isn't always accurate, and often people spread untrue gossip just to mess with someone they don't like.
Vocabulary lists containing gossip
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Simply Scandalous!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Sula
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An adaption of Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless captured the teen spirit of the 90s and inspired countless school dramas like Mean Girls, Gossip Girl and Legally Blonde.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2025
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in the hit teen drama series, "Gossip Girl" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has died at 39.
From Salon • Feb. 26, 2025
She had been in successful TV shows and films, like Gossip Girl and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2024
Gossip websites reported that they were living separate lives, and fans began to ask questions on social media.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024
Gossip, for example, represented one seventy-second of a proof.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
