Synonyms

rumor

American

[roo-mer] / ˈru mər /

especially British, rumour

noun

a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts.

a rumor of war.

Synonyms:

report
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.

Usage

What does rumor mean? A rumor is a story or statement that is being passed around without confirmation that the information is true, as in I heard a rumor about a new superhero movie.Rumor can also mean general hearsay, as in You shouldn’t put much faith in rumor and speculation. As a verb, rumor means to spread or report rumors. When used this way, it is usually accompanied by the thing that is a rumor, as in It has been rumored that Disney is building a new amusement park outside the city. While rumor does mean the information hasn’t been checked, it is still possible for it to be true. For this reason, rumor may not always be able to be used as a synonym for words like lie, falsehood, nonsense, or fiction.In British English, rumor is often spelled as rumour.A person who loves spreading rumors is called a rumormonger.Example: My gossipy neighbor loves spreading ridiculous rumors all over town.

Other Word Forms

unrumored adjective

Etymology

Origin of rumor

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English rumour, from Middle French, from Latin rūmor; akin to Sanskrit rāuti, rāvati “(he) cries”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pair shared statements on their Instagram stories that they “wanted to provide some clarity” as rumors swirled about their status.

From Los Angeles Times

“Just a rumor. And since I haven’t seen you at practice in forever, I thought maybe it was true.”

From Literature

The announcement of Savannah Guthrie’s return puts to bed rumors of a potential exit that had swirled since her mother’s disappearance.

From The Wall Street Journal

While rumors of peace talks swirl, Meir Kliner, president of Ondas Autonomous Systems, said on Wednesday’s fourth-quarter earnings call that demand for the company’s services will remain after the Iran war ends.

From Barron's

Last month, Reddit users even pitched the idea of Best Buy opening GameStop sections within its stores after other rumors surfaced concerning a potential partnership.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023