rumor

/ˈruːmər/
nounIntermediate
informal

Information or a story that is passed from person to person but is not confirmed as true.

Rumors about the celebrity's secret wedding started circulating online.

Unverified stories about the celebrity's secret wedding began spreading online.

💡

Rumors often spread quickly and can be damaging if false.

Collocations

spread a rumorto share unverified informationstart a rumorto initiate the spread of unverified informationcirculate a rumorto pass unverified information around

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

spread like wildfirephrase
to spread very quickly
take with a grain of saltphrase
to be skeptical about something

💡Pro Tip

Distinguish rumors from facts

Always verify information before believing or sharing it, especially if it's a rumor.

Gold Rule

Avoid spreading rumors

Be cautious about sharing unverified information, as it can cause harm or misunderstandings.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English *rumour*, from Old French *rumor*, from Latin *rumor* (noise, report, rumor), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *rew-* (to roar).

📝Usage Notes

Rumors are often spread informally and can be harmful if they are false or malicious. They are distinct from verified news or official statements.

Word Breakdown

rum
possibly related to noise or disturbance
root
+
-or
a suffix indicating a person or thing characterized by the root
suffix
English Dictionary