word-of-mouth

1 of 2

adjective

ˌwərd-ə(v)-ˈmau̇th 

: orally communicated

also : generated from or reliant on oral publicity

word-of-mouth customers

a word-of-mouth business

word of mouth

2 of 2

noun phrase

: oral communication

especially : oral often inadvertent publicity

Synonyms of word-of-mouth

Adjective

• oral
• verbal

Examples of word-of-mouth in a Sentence

Adjective

not having the money to run ads, the restaurant relies on word-of-mouth publicity

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Weapons, his follow-up to 2022’s word-of-mouth phenomenon Barbarian, manages to stick the landing by dialing up both the uncanniness and the laughs. —Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025

Strong critical response and word-of-mouth are now prompting plans for a wider French re-release due to audience demand, according to a WME Independent statement. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025

Noun phrase

And retatrutide is spreading through old-fashioned word of mouth—like with Katie and her hairdresser—because its effects are just so visible. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025

Certified Fresh at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and with exit polls showing outstanding word of mouth across demographics, Marty Supreme is hitting with younger moviegoers. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1817, in the meaning defined above

Noun Phrase

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

word of mouth

: spoken communication