rumor

American

[roo-mer] / ˈru mər /

especially British, rumour

noun

a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts.

a rumor of war.

Synonyms:

report
gossip; hearsay.

Don't listen to rumor.
Archaic. a continuous, confused noise; clamor; din.

verb (used with object)

to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor.

It is rumored that the king is dead.

Usage

What does rumor mean? A rumor is a story or statement that is being passed around without confirmation that the information is true, as in I heard a rumor about a new superhero movie.Rumor can also mean general hearsay, as in You shouldn’t put much faith in rumor and speculation. As a verb, rumor means to spread or report rumors. When used this way, it is usually accompanied by the thing that is a rumor, as in It has been rumored that Disney is building a new amusement park outside the city. While rumor does mean the information hasn’t been checked, it is still possible for it to be true. For this reason, rumor may not always be able to be used as a synonym for words like lie, falsehood, nonsense, or fiction.In British English, rumor is often spelled as rumour.A person who loves spreading rumors is called a rumormonger.Example: My gossipy neighbor loves spreading ridiculous rumors all over town.

Other Word Forms

unrumored adjective

Etymology

Origin of rumor

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English rumour, from Middle French, from Latin rūmor; akin to Sanskrit rāuti, rāvati “(he) cries”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Nixon energy advisor had to try to quash the “great myth” rumor that gas would hit — gasp — a dollar a gallon.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

The stock market, however, is forward-looking; buy the rumor and sell the news, as the saying goes.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

In an interview, Clowney said he doesn’t know Ella and heard the rumor from someone else.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Though both have denied it, the rumor gained strength and credibility last year as Lewandowski was repeatedly photographed coming and going from Noem’s D.C. apartment.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

Even though it was a rumor, several newspapers and agencies—including the eminent gray lady, The New York Times—published it as at least a possibility.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023