rumor

noun ru·mor \ ˈrü-mər \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

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

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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

Some spread rumors about her husband, former president Bill Clinton, or promote lies about her.

— mary clare jalonick, chicagotribune.com, "More than 3,500 Russian Facebook ads released by Congress," 10 May 2018
Murphy addresses the rumors about a possible run for governor, his failed Senate campaign against Marco Rubio two years ago, and his views on the best way to keep schools safe.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Gwen Graham, Chris King talk governor's race," 10 May 2018
Some spread rumors about her husband, former president Bill Clinton, or promote lies about her.

— mary clare jalonick, BostonGlobe.com, "Lawmakers release thousands of Russian Facebook ads," 10 May 2018
Some spread rumors about her husband, former president Bill Clinton, or promote lies about her.

— Fox News, "Facebook ads show Russian effort to stoke political division," 10 May 2018
That visit also unfolded in secrecy; rumors about Kim's presence swirled in the Chinese capital after a mysterious, armored North Korean train was spotted in its main train station.

— jonathan kaiman, latimes.com, "In a whirlwind of diplomacy, Kim has second surprise meeting with China," 8 May 2018
For many, though, Retherford’s OVI arrest a year later confirmed the rumors about him.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "Year after OVI arrest, Republican lawmaker Wes Retherford loses primary to Sara Carruthers," 8 May 2018
Willson’s efforts, which included quelling gay rumors about Hudson by having the beefcake star marry the agent’s secretary, Phyllis Gates, are recounted in painstaking detail.

— gary m. kramer, Philly.com, "'Giant': A giant book about a giant film," 4 May 2018
Like Wiseman, Carey has been the subject of online rumors about possibly moving up a year to enroll at a college in the fall.

— jon hale, The Courier-Journal, "Five-star forward Vernon Carey open to playing with No. 1 recruit James Wiseman in college," 27 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

rumor Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

tale, whisper, whispering;

hint, intimation, rumbling;

propaganda;

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

It is believed that a fee of €40m (£35m) would be enough to lure Jorginho away from Naples, and Barcelona's interest represents a challenge to several Premier League clubs who are rumored to be interested in the 26-year-old.

— SI.com, "Report: Barcelona Joins Liverpool, Man City in Race for Napoli's Jorginho," 10 May 2018
Perhaps the Dallas Mavericks, who have been rumored to be interested in the past, will make a run at him.

— tim bontemps, chicagotribune.com, "Will DeMarcus Cousins be back with the New Orleans Pelicans?," 9 May 2018
And of course the small group of writers who are regularly rumored to be Nobel contenders—Philip Roth, the Syrian poet Adonis—must be furious.

— adam kirsch, The Atlantic, "Readers Don't Need the Nobel Prize in Literature," 7 May 2018
Hotel pastry chef Mark Slessor and his team are creating a lemon elderflower cake, which is rumored to be the Royal Couple's flavor choice.

— detroit free press staff, Detroit Free Press, "Watch the royal wedding in British high style at this Oakland County hotel," 3 May 2018
Both of Kate's siblings, James and Pippa (who is rumored to be expecting herself), have also been seen visiting Kensington Palace following the birth of little Louis.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Queen Elizabeth Just Visited Her New Great-Grandson, Prince Louis," 2 May 2018
Green Berets in Vietnam suspected that Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, the commander of military operations in Vietnam who was rumored to dislike the Special Forces, was using the incident to undercut them.

— daniel e. slotnik, New York Times, "Maj. Gen. Michael Healy, Paragon Among Green Berets, Dies at 91," 27 Apr. 2018
Captain Marvel has teamed up with both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comic books, and it’s rumored that some of the Guardians characters will appear in her solo movie.

— eliana dockterman, Time, "Here's a Complete List of All the Upcoming Marvel Movies," 17 Apr. 2018
One of the clerks in a photo lineup identified the customer as Sheila Keen, who was rumored in May 1990 to be having an affair with victim Marlene Warren's husband.

— CBS News, ""Killer clown" case: DNA ties suspect to getaway car, prosecutors say," 13 Apr. 2018