news

noun, plural in form but singular in construction, often attributive \ ˈnüz , ˈnyüz \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

1 a : a report of recent events

gave her the good news

b : previously unknown information

I've got news for you

c : something having a specified influence or effect

the rain was good news for lawns and gardens
—Garrison Keillor

the virus was bad news

2 a : material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast

listened to the news on the radio

b : matter that is newsworthy

The layoffs were big news in this part of the state.

3 : newscast

We saw it on the evening news.

—

newsless

play \ˈnüz-ləs, ˈnyüz-\ adjective

Recent Examples of news from the Web

Waukesha police had issued a news release on April 14 indicating Mani had been reported as missing.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Waukesha woman killed in Milwaukee in incident classified as a homicide," 16 Apr. 2018
Xfinity cable customers get a free week of unlimited access to Netflix, HBO, Showtime and more than 50 other networks on Aprl 16-21 during the Sixth Annual Xfinity Watchathon Week, according to a news release.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Free Netflix, HBO and more during Comcast's Xfinity Watchathon Week on April 16-21," 16 Apr. 2018
The blaze broke out about 7:20 p.m. Saturday on the 600 block of Crouse Street, south of East Exchange Street, an Akron fire department news release states.

— jane morice, cleveland.com, "Woman dies in house fire in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood, fire officials say," 15 Apr. 2018
About 310,000 customers with Michigan's electric and gas company DTE are without power, according to a company news release.

— amir vera, CNN, "Severe weather hits South, North and Midwest," 15 Apr. 2018
Liesa Anne Robertson, 55, was driving a Nissan Altima that crossed the center line of the highway in Madison County, trooper spokesman Curtis Summerville said in a news release.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Huntsville woman killed in 3-vehicle wreck on Alabama 53," 14 Apr. 2018
SUBSCRIBE TODAY Equestrian and beach volleyball beat out a handful of other finalists named in a Feb. 16 news release by the university.

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "UC Davis adds 2 women's teams to meet Title IX standards as campus demographics change | The Sacramento Bee," 14 Apr. 2018
José Amaya-Vasquez, 33, previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping, engaging in interstate domestic violence, and illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito’s office.

— kelsey ryan, kansascity, "Honduran national sentenced to 24 years for kidnapping, raping Kansas City woman | The Kansas City Star," 14 Apr. 2018
The 50-year-old actor was one of four people in a 2017 Lincoln driving in the carpool lane, which is separated from regular traffic lanes by paint, not a physical barrier, according to a CHP news release.

— teri figueroa, latimes.com, "Will Ferrell was playing Ron Burgundy at political event before car crash," 14 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'news.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of news

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

NEWS Defined for English Language Learners

news

noun

: new information or a report about something that has happened recently
: information that is reported in a newspaper, magazine, television news program, etc.
: someone or something that is exciting and in the news