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View synonyms for

rumor

[ roo-mer ]

noun

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

    a rumor of war.

    Synonyms:

  2. Don't listen to rumor.

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


verb (used with object)

  1. to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor:

    It is rumored that the king is dead.

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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·mǰ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rumor1

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Eddie said to me, “Don’t tell anyone about us talking because I don’t want to be answering questions about rumors of a reunion.”

From

As someone with an education in conflict and negotiation, I've been fascinated with Meghan since the rumors of her romance with the lesser-liked "spare" prince, Harry, started rumbling nearly a decade ago.

From

He was rumored to be on the shortlist to replace the late Chief Justice of the United States, William Rehnquist.

From

A year after that, in 2019, she went a little ballistic once again when it was rumored that her sister Kylie Jenner’s friend Jordyn Woods was connecting with Thompson — a rumor Woods denied.

From

makes the experience of grinding through all 900-plus pages is the way the author weaves together rumor, history, innuendo, mystery, outrage, heartache and ecstasy.

From

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More About Rumor

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.

Where does rumor come from?

The first records of rumor come from around 1325. It ultimately comes from the Latin ūǰ. Even in ancient Rome, people couldn’t help themselves from spreading rumors.

People are fascinated by rumors. Magazines and celebrity gossip publications often dedicate entire issues to spreading rumors about famous people. Rumors allow our imagination to run wild, which is probably why we enjoy hearing them.

Professional journalists are not supposed to report rumors as facts and will typically alert readers that the information is unconfirmed to avoid being sued for slander or libel.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to rumor?

  • rumour (alternative spelling)
  • unrumored (adjective)

are some synonyms for rumor?

are some words that share a root or word element with rumor?

are some words that often get used in discussing rumor?

How is rumor used in real life?

People love to spread rumors. A word of advice: It is a good idea to check for the truth if a rumor sounds ridiculous or untrue.

Try using rumor!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym of rumor?

A. gossip
B. truth
C. hearsay
D. tale

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