gossip

1 of 2

noun

gos·​sip ˈgä-səp How to pronounce gossip (audio)
1
a
dialectal British : godparent
c
: a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
the worst gossip in town
2
a
: rumor or report of an intimate nature
spreading gossip about their divorce
b
: a chatty talk
c
: the subject matter of gossip
Their breakup was common gossip.
gossipry noun

gossip

2 of 2

verb

gossiped; gossiping; gossips

intransitive verb

: to relate gossip (see gossip entry 1 sense 2a)
gossiper noun

Did you know?

Old English sibb, meaning “relative” or “kinsman,” came from the adjective sibb, “related by blood” (the ancestor of modern English sibling). Old English godsibb was a person spiritually related to another, specifically by being a sponsor at baptism. Today we call such a person a godparent. Over the centuries, godsibb changed both in form and in meaning. Middle English gossib came to be used for a close friend or crony as well as for a godparent. From there it was only a short step to the gossip of today, a person no longer necessarily friend, relative, or sponsor, but someone filled with irresistible tidbits of rumor.

Examples of gossip in a Sentence

Noun He had been spreading gossip about his coworkers. the latest news and gossip from the entertainment industry She writes a gossip column in the paper. I like having a good gossip now and then. Verb They spent the afternoon gossiping on the phone. They often gossip with each other about their neighbors.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Like the unnamed narrator who finds Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter in the Salem Custom House and then sets about telling her tale, Banks’s narrators are anonymous busybodies and town gossips, nosy neighbors or observers once removed from the action. Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024 Randomness governs lots of processes in the world, from stock markets, to internet gossip, to the spread of disease and the activity of bacteria in a Petri dish. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024 Not to go all Taylor Swift conspiracy theorist on you, but there are some signs — and celeb gossip reports— that point to Swift spending some time in the desert. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024 Not to go all Taylor Swift conspiracy theorist on you, but there are some signs — and celeb gossip reports — that point to Swift spending some time in the desert. Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024 This witty rom-com is packed with rumors, enemies-to-lovers and saucy gossip. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024 Here’s where things start to drift into the territory of hearsay and industry gossip. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024 The scene sets the mood for seven episodes of saucy gossip, wanton violence, and all manner of pansexual debauchery. Judy Berman, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024 Most of the drama is in the form of gossip and characters trying to get power over one another. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
The idea behind these groups is to inform people in cities around the country about potential suitors, not to gossip about people. USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024 Having to fire someone is hard enough, but one sure way to show a bad example to your employees is to gossip about the person who was fired. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The chatter sounds a lot like adolescents gossiping about who’s dating who. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 Tight-knit, patriarchal and deeply religious, the whole village is aware of everyone else’s business — and that leads to gossip percolating in every corner. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2024 However, the company does not shy away from its reputation as a place that gives employees all over the world a digital space to gossip. Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 The lone pub in Twin Peaks where everyone gets together to gossip, side-eye each other, and carry on torrid affairs is technically called The Bang Bang Bar, but locals call it The Roadhouse. Katie Rife, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Well, according to the latest research, gossiping may not be all that bad. Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 Vinny gets called out for being a big baby and running to tell on Angelina for gossiping about Pauly D. He and Angelina become mortal enemies. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gossip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English gossib, from Old English godsibb, from god god + sibb kinsman, from sibb related — more at sib

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gossip was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gossip

Cite this Entry

“Gossip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gossip. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

gossip

noun
gos·​sip
ˈgäs-əp
1
: a person who reveals personal or sensational facts
2
a
: rumor or report of a personal nature
b
: chatty talk
gossip verb
gossiper noun
gossipy
-ə-pē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gossip

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