rumour
Britishnoun
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information, often a mixture of truth and untruth, passed around verbally
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( in combination )
a rumour-monger
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gossip or hearsay
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archaic din or clamour
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obsolete fame or reputation
verb
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(tr; usually passive) to pass around or circulate in the form of a rumour
it is rumoured that the Queen is coming
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For those who watch North Korea closely, this kind of rumour has become almost routine.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
With the "rumour mill going wild" there was "confusion" within the group.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Some of those who crossed the border said they had heard the border was open -- a rumour quickly amplified on social media.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
That rumour was amplified by social media and the sharing of images showing hundreds of youths celebrating their entry into the territory.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
