word of mouth

American  

noun

1. informal oral communication.

   The rumor spread rapidly by word of mouth.

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Other Word Forms

• word-of-mouth
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of word of mouth

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

word of mouth

Be it measured by box office gross or word of mouth buzz, popularity isn’t enough to define a classic.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

The company’s sense of swagger means that many customers approach it directly due to word of mouth and reputation, and that Palantir can decide which partnerships will generate the most value, the analysts write.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Growth finally began to pick up after the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by the country's economic and digital acceleration, as well as word of mouth.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

In 2018, she and her partner spent a year living in key worker accommodation - something she says isn't very accessible and is largely discovered through word of mouth.

From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026

Using word of mouth, brokers in Seoul offered “planned escapes.”

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden