gossip

[ gos-uhp ]

See synonyms for gossip on Thesaurus.com

noun

idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others: the endless gossip about Hollywood stars.
light, familiar talk or writing.

Also gos·sip·er, gos·sip·per. a person given to tattling or idle talk.
Chiefly British Dialect. a godparent.
Archaic. a friend, especially a woman.

verb (used without object),gos·siped or gos·sipped, gos·sip·ing or gos·sip·ping.

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

verb (used with object),gos·siped or gos·sipped, gos·sip·ing or gos·sip·ping.

Chiefly British Dialect. to stand godparent to.
Archaic. to repeat like a gossip.

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

synonym study For gossip

1. 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 words for gossip

1	small talk, hearsay, palaver, chitchat
3	chatterer, talker, gabbler, rumormonger
6	chatter, prattle, prate, palaver

See synonyms for gossip on Thesaurus.com

Other words from gossip

gos·sip·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·gos·sip, verb, in·ter·gos·siped or in·ter·gos·sipped, in·ter·gos·sip·ing.
un·gos·sip·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gossip in a sentence

It really is just like gossiping—and, occasionally, kvetching—with a friend over a glass of wine.
Judy Greer Doesn’t Know What You Know Her From | Kevin Fallon | April 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Vidal loved sex, and gossiping about it: he estimated he had had sex with a thousand men before he was 25.
How Gay Was Gore Vidal? | Tim Teeman | July 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But talking about political scandals is more likely to get you banned in Beijing than gossiping about sex.
Lei Zhengfu Sex Tape: China Mesmerized by Once-Taboo Topics of Politics and Porn | Melinda Liu | November 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Customers (mainly Thais, plus a few expats) gaze through a one-way glass, while the girls stare at a mirrored wall, gossiping.
‘Whores’ Glory’: An Interview With Michael Glawogger | Tracy Quan | April 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
But with all this tweeting and gossiping, we're forgetting about the clothes.
Paris Fashion Week Frenzy: Let’s Focus on Clothes | Robin Givhan | March 9, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST

Aristide stood gossiping until the Mayor invited him to take a place at the table and consume liquid refreshment.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
Now she has some one to do her work she will stay gossiping about the town till dark night.
The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
It was no longer a confidential maid gossiping with the casual waiter of a smart hotel.
A Butterfly on the Wheel | Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
He was worse than the gossiping women, letting himself conjure up weird and incredible ideas.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.
They are veiled and swathed in wraps, and seem to spend their time gossiping or asleep in the innermost recesses of the cabin.
Round the Wonderful World | G. E. Mitton

British Dictionary definitions for gossip

gossip¹

/ (ˈɡɒsɪp) /

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-sips, -siping or -siped

(intr often foll by about) to talk casually or maliciously (about other people)

Origin of gossip

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

Derived forms of gossip

gossiper, noun
gossiping, noun, adjective
gossipingly, adverb
gossipy, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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