news

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

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of news

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

In other news, Bryan Colangelo has resigned as Sixers president after a week-long investigation revealed his wife used of anonymous Twitter accounts to release damaging team information.

— oona goodin-smith, Philly.com, "Bryan Colangelo resigns, a look at Philly's elaborate prom send-offs | Morning Newsletter," 8 June 2018
In other news: Trump is considering a pardon for boxing great Muhammad Ali.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Police question family as crews search for missing Bullitt County toddler," 8 June 2018
That’s the message that Rebecca Bernert, a suicidologist and director of the Suicide Prevention Research Laboratory at Stanford, likes to get out to people when suicide is in the news.

— erin allday, SFChronicle.com, "Experts: Suicides of Bourdain, Spade may be opportunity to reach out," 8 June 2018
This news comes after the Trump administration on Thursday announced a new, multimillion dollar public awareness advertisement campaign aimed at curbing opioid addiction among young people.

— daniella diaz, CNN, "House set to vote on more than 20 bills to combat opioid addiction," 8 June 2018
On Friday morning, news broke that Anthony Bourdain had died of an apparent suicide.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Asia Argento on Anthony Bourdain: “He Was My Love, My Rock, My Protector”," 8 June 2018
Faith, Hope and Love, 1:30 PM Four romance novelists, including the wonderful Sonali Dev, chat about their work, which for many people provides an antidote to the regular horrors of the news.

— aimee levitt, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Books It's time once again for the two-day book bonanza that's the Printer's Row Lit Fest," 8 June 2018
The good news is that bacteria can't survive at 365 degrees.

— jessica cruel, SELF, "12 Common Curling Iron Mistakes and How to Stop Making Them," 8 June 2018
The promising news is the result of immunotherapy—a type of cancer treatment that stimulates the body’s own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "This Woman's Terminal Breast Cancer Disappeared After Immunotherapy. Here's Why That's Such a Big Deal," 8 June 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

Definition of news for English Language Learners

: 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