gossip

American  

[gos-uhp] / ˈgɒs əp /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Related Words

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

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

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.

Example Sentences

But some things do transcend borders - like the need for gossip.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Along the way, she chronicles it all like a gossip columnist for her 1.2 million Instagram followers and nearly half a million Substack subscribers under the name House Inhabit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The digital publication is known for its Playbook newsletter highlighting Washington news and gossip, as well as its lucrative subscription offerings for government agencies and other business customers in the U.S. and abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Every time, there was talk about ideas and gossip and so, so much laughter.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Most likely, both the gossip theory and the there-is-a-lion-near-the-river theory are valid.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

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