rumour

British  

/ ˈruːmə /

noun

1. 1. information, often a mixture of truth and untruth, passed around verbally

   2. ( in combination )

      a rumour-monger

2. gossip or hearsay

3. archaic din or clamour

4. obsolete fame or reputation

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verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to pass around or circulate in the form of a rumour

   it is rumoured that the Queen is coming

2. literary to make or cause to make a murmuring noise

Etymology

Origin of rumour

C14: via Old French from Latin rūmor common talk; related to Old Norse rymja to roar, Sanskrit rāut he cries

Example Sentences

They have been demined since, "but rumour has it it's still not safe," the 15-year-old said.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

Mr Cash said the information he gave Mr Berry was publicly available or "just political gossip that formed part of the everyday Westminster rumour mill".

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025

"There was a rumour of it on the morning and everyone was like 'no obviously not', I said 'no way he's coming to manage, he's just visiting'."

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

As is often the case when Hamilton struggles, not only does his mood plumb the depths, but the F1 rumour mill spins into overdrive.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2025

I began to cherish hopes I had no right to conceive: that the match was broken off; that rumour had been mistaken; that one or both parties had changed their minds.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë