gossip

[gos-uhp]

noun

1. 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

2. light, familiar talk or writing.

3. Also gossiper, gossipper. a person given to tattling or idle talk.

   Synonyms: rumormonger, chatterer

4. Chiefly British Dialect.,  a godparent.

5. Archaic.,  a friend, especially a woman.

verb (used without object)

gossiped, gossipped, gossiping, gossipping. 

1. to talk idly, especially about the affairs of others; go about tattling.

   Synonyms: palaver, prate, prattle, chatter

verb (used with object)

gossiped, gossipped, gossiping, gossipping. 

1. Chiefly British Dialect.,  to stand godparent to.

2. Archaic.,  to repeat like a gossip.

gossip

/ ˈɡɒsɪp /

noun

1. casual and idle chat

   to have a gossip with a friend

2. a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumours about other people

   a gossip about the neighbours

3. Also called: gossipmonger. a person who habitually talks about others, esp maliciously

4. light easy communication

   to write a letter full of gossip

5. archaic,  a close woman friend

verb

1. to talk casually or maliciously (about other people)

Other Word Forms

• gossipingly adverb
• intergossip verb
• ungossiping adjective
• gossiping noun
• gossipy adjective
• gossiper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gossip¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English gossib, godsib(be), Old English godsibb, originally “godparent,” equivalent to god + sibb “related”; god, sib

Word History and Origins

Origin of gossip¹

Old English godsibb godparent, from _god + _sib ; the term came to be applied to familiar friends, esp a woman's female friends at the birth of a child, hence a person, esp a woman, fond of light talk

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Once the press gets wind that Mary’s marriage has ended, the gossip is relentless, and the one-time belle of the ball can’t rustle up so much as a small tea party.

From Salon

The feud stirred up a larger conversation on what exactly is worth protecting in Southern California, a region loaded with architectural marvels and Old Hollywood haunts swirling with celebrity legend and gossip.

From Los Angeles Times

On their commute, she said the two women would gossip and talk about their days.

From BBC

To make it worse, he lied a lot during his response, insisting he didn’t know about the gossip, even as he rolled out a clearly rehearsed litany of unprovable “evidence” of his activity.

From Salon

For the latest rumours check out today's gossip column, and head here for the full list of transfers from August.

From BBC

Related Words

• buzz 
• chatter 
• chitchat 
• conversation 
• hearsay 
• news 
• scandal 
• slander 
• tale