rumor

noun ru·mor \ ˈrü-mər \

Definition of rumor

1 :talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source

2 :a statement or report current without known authority for its truth

3 archaic :talk or report of a notable person or event

4 :a soft low indistinct sound :murmur

See rumor defined for English-language learners

See rumor defined for kids

Examples of rumor in a Sentence

There are rumors that they are making a new film.
She accused him of starting rumors about her.
Ever since his sudden resignation, rumors have been flying.
I heard a rumor that they broke up.
“Did you hear that they broke up?” “That's just a rumor.”
The rumor turned out to be false.
You can't fire him solely based on rumor.
Rumor has it that they broke up.

Recent Examples of rumor from the Web

Morales has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and rumors swirled last week that Morales’ visit to U.N. headquarters in New York was to get rid of the commission’s head, Ivan Velasquez.

— christopher sherman, The Seattle Times, "Guatemala’s president plunges into constitutional crisis," 27 Aug. 2017
While the work may confirm what ancient historians already related, much of ancient history is mired in myth, rumor and tall tales—especially larger than life figures like Hannibal and Scipio.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Silver Composition in Coins Confirms the Story of the Rise of Rome," 17 Aug. 2017
The cheap flight day rumor has been around for a decade.

— kristen leigh painter, CNT, "The Truth About 'Cheap Flight Day'," 4 Aug. 2017
This image not only lines up with the rumors that the next iPhone would drop its Home button and bezels for a big tenth anniversary redesign, but also matches up with a growing trend in recent top-tier phones.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "This Is Probably What the New iPhone Looks Like," 31 July 2017
But apparently rumor of this technique reached Essos as well.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Game of Thrones: Answering 10 Burning Questions from “Stormborn”," 23 July 2017
Early in his presidency, Trump surveyed his friends and associates about Priebus’ performance and rumors that he might be replaced are an ever-present feature of the first six months of the administration.

— abby phillip, Washington Post, "Sessions learns loyalty can be a one-way street with Trump," 20 July 2017
While the season's climax till lays ahead, the conclusion is in clear enough sight for post-Thrones rumors.

— lincoln anthony blades, Teen Vogue, "Why HBO’s “Confederate” Is Completely Unnecessary," 20 July 2017
These videos became the basis for a pernicious rumor that Planned Parenthood was profiting from fetal remains—even though the videos were found to be manipulated and Planned Parenthood was cleared of all charges.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Judge Finds Anti-Abortion Activist Behind Planned Parenthood Videos in Contempt," 18 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of rumor

Middle English rumour, from Anglo-French, from Latin rumor clamor, gossip; akin to Old English rēon to lament, Sanskrit rauti he roars

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First Known Use: 14th century

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rumor Synonyms

Synonyms

buzz, dish, gossip, hearsay, noise, report, scuttlebutt, talk, tattle, word

Related Words

tale, whisper, whispering; hint, intimation, rumbling; disinformation, propaganda; urban legend (also urban myth); dirt, scandal

rumor

verb

Definition of rumor

rumored; rumoring

transitive verb

:to tell or spread by rumor

Examples of rumor in a Sentence

for years people have been rumoring the CEO's imminent retirement

Recent Examples of rumor from the Web

Singer, actress, and angel on this earth Rihanna has been pretty low-key about the new man in her life, rumored to be 29-year-old Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel.

— elizabeth logan, Glamour, "Rihanna Hides Her Rumored Boyfriend—Where Else?—Under Her Umbrella," 17 Aug. 2017
Turkey is near agreement with Moscow to purchase a version of Russia’s most advanced air defense system, the S-400, in a deal rumored to be worth $2.5 billion.

— marc c. johnson, National Review, "As Turkey and NATO Drift Apart, Russia, China, and Iran Stand to Gain," 19 July 2017
Raimi got a villain and a plot line that he was rumored to have wanted no part of (Venom and his black, alien suit that takes over Spider-Man for a bit) and we're given a Spidey-movie that looks like something no one wanted to make.

— david betancourt, chicagotribune.com, "All six Spider-Man movies, ranked from best to worst," 8 July 2017
The most common questions during performances usually center around Sally Hemings, a slave on his estate with whom Jefferson is rumored to have had children, as well as the origins of democracy and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

— jeff landa, Glendale News-Press, "Glendale actor brings Thomas Jefferson to life in ad-lib show," 29 June 2017
That's a spot where Donovan Mitchell has been rumored to be headed.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Live updates and commentary on the 2017 NBA draft," 22 June 2017
One of the teams being rumored, per the Chicago Tribune, is Phoenix, which owns the fourth pick in Thursday's draft.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "Watch Ed Orgeron's thunderous ad for hurricane preparedness," 21 June 2017
The shooter was rumored to belong to a renegade branch of the Black Disciples.

— rubén rosario, Twin Cities, "Rosario: Can the gangs make peace?," 15 June 2017
The death was ruled a suicide, but it was rumored that the young man and Ms. Pallenberg had been playing Russian roulette.

— anita gates, New York Times, "Anita Pallenberg, Actress and Muse of Rolling Stones, Dies at 75," 14 June 2017

First Known Use of rumor

1548

rumor Synonyms

Synonyms

bruit (about), circulate, noise (about or out), whisper

Related Words

bandy (about), blab, dish, gossip, tattle; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest; blaze, broadcast, proclaim, promulgate, propagate, publicize, spread

RUMOR Defined for English Language Learners

rumor

noun

Definition of rumor for English Language Learners

: information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true

RUMOR Defined for Kids

rumor

noun ru·mor \ ˈrü-mər \

Definition of rumor for Students

:information or a story that is passed from one person to another but has not been proven to be true and has no known source

rumor

verb

Definition of rumor for Students

rumored; rumoring

:to spread information or a story that has not been proven to be true

Learn More about rumor

See words that rhyme with rumor Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rumor Spanish Central: Translation of rumor Nglish: Translation of rumor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rumor for Arabic speakers

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rumor

Definition of rumor

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RUMOR Defined for English Language Learners

rumor

Definition of rumor for English Language Learners

RUMOR Defined for Kids

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rumor

Definition of rumor for Students

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