1
: talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source
We make our blunders … as rumor has it that you make your own.—
Benjamin N. Cardozo
Benjamin N. Cardozo2
: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
She accused them of spreading rumors about her.
"Have you heard they broke up?" "That's just a rumor."
3
archaic
: talk or report of a notable person or event
4
: a soft low indistinct sound : murmur
Examples of rumor in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
for years people have been rumoring the CEO's imminent retirement
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 29 Nov. 2025
While there is no real indication that Memphis has any intention of trading him, he has been linked to multiple teams in trade rumors.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Three years later, the two were rumored to have gotten married when Boscarino started posting with a band on her finger, in addition to the diamond ring.
—Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumor
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Though White House officials indicated those checks could land in 2026, rumors and talk of a 2025 stimulus payment continue to circulate on unverified websites and social media posts.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 29 Nov. 2025
While there is no real indication that Memphis has any intention of trading him, he has been linked to multiple teams in trade rumors.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
With that being said, there are still big names being rumored as possible fits for Penn State.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Three years later, the two were rumored to have gotten married when Boscarino started posting with a band on her finger, in addition to the diamond ring.
—Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumor
Cite this Entry
“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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