rumor

[ roo-mer ]

/ ˈru mər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rumor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war.

gossip; hearsay: Don't listen to rumor.

Archaic. a continuous, confused noise; clamor; din.

verb (used with object)

to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor: It is rumored that the king is dead.

Nearby words

rummage, rummage out, rummage sale, rummer, rummy, rumor, rumored, rumormonger, rumour, rump, rump parliament

Also especially British, ru·mour.

Origin of rumor

1325–75; Middle English rumour < Middle French < Latin rūmor; akin to Sanskrit rāuti, rāvati (he) cries

SYNONYMS FOR rumor

1 report.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rumor ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·ru·mored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rumor

Not even Radio Bemba (Cuban slang for the rumor mill) had picked up the signal.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He does, however, attempt to dispel some of the myths that have emerged from hearsay and rumor over the last century.
How WWI Produced the Holocaust|J.P. O’Malley|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus the rumor as well as the reality of the threat is used for intimidation.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Rumor of Angels: Quotations for Living, Dying and Letting Goby Gail Perry Johnson and Jill Perry Rabideau.
Book Bag: Reading Your Way Out Of Grief|Anna Whiston-Donaldson|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the rumor that House Republicans were cutting funding for Ebola had already taken off.
Progressive Bloggers Spread False Ebola Story|Tim Mak|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As for the rumor, the world will no doubt roll round, whether Burnside is defeated or succeeds.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 86, December, 1864|Various
Only once had Harlan been able to refute the charge of rumor.
'Drag' Harlan|Charles Alden Seltzer
There's a rumor that some one is in town, now, looking for me.
The Cup of Trembling and Other Stories|Mary Hallock Foote
He had heard a rumor concerning Ruiz Rios, long ago, half forgotten.
Daughter of the Sun|Jackson Gregory
The rumor of it spread through the rooms, and the crowd about the roulette received a large contingent of spectators.
Confidence|Henry James

Word Origin and History for rumor (1 of 2)

rumor

late 14c., from Old French rumor "commotion, widespread noise or report" (Modern French rumeur), from Latin rumorem (nominative rumor) "noise, clamor, common talk, hearsay, popular opinion," related to ravus "hoarse," from PIE *reu- "to bellow." Related: Rumorous. Rumor mill is from 1887. Dutch rumoer, German Rumor are from French.

Word Origin and History for rumor (1 of 2)

rumor

1590s, "spread a rumor; spread by way of rumor," from rumor (n.). Related: Rumored; rumoring.

rumor

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of rumor

Examples from the Web for rumor

Word Origin and History for rumor (1 of 2)

rumor

Word Origin and History for rumor (1 of 2)

rumor