gossip
GO-sihp
Gossip (noun) means Casual talk about other people's private affairs, often unverified or spread out of curiosity. Example: “The office was buzzing with gossip about the merger.”
noun
1
Casual talk about other people's private affairs, often unverified or spread out of curiosity.
"The office was buzzing with gossip about the merger."
"She never believes gossip without checking the facts."
"I heard some juicy gossip at the coffee shop today."
2
A person who habitually talks about others' private business.
"He's a terrible gossip — nothing stays secret around him."
"Don't tell Maria, because she is an awful gossip."
"Every village seems to have one gossip who knows everything."
verb
1
To talk about other people's private lives, often spreading rumors.
"They sat gossiping about the new neighbors for an hour."
"The two friends gossiped over tea about everyone at school."
"Stop gossiping and get back to work!"
How to use gossip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishChit-chat about other people's private lives — as a noun (the talk, or the person who spreads it) or a verb (to do it).
Common mistake
Uncountable when it means "talk" ("some gossip," not "a gossip" in that sense) but countable when it means the person ("she's a gossip").
Common pairings
juicy gossip
spread gossip
gossip about someone
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Word forms
- Plural
- gossips
- Third person singular
- gossips
- Past tense
- gossiped, gossipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The office was buzzing with _____ about the merger.
Etymology
From Old English godsibb, originally meaning "godparent" (literally "God-relative"). Over time, close family friends and godparents who chatted about family matters gave the word its modern sense of idle talk about others.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “gossip” mean?
The word “gossip” means casual talk about other people's private affairs, often unverified or spread out of curiosity. In plain terms, chit-chat about other people's private lives — as a noun (the talk, or the person who spreads it) or a verb (to do it).
How do you pronounce “gossip”?
“Gossip” is pronounced GO-sihp (/ˈɡɑsɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “gossip” in a sentence?
Here is “gossip” used in a sentence: “The office was buzzing with gossip about the merger.”
What is another word for “gossip”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gossip” include blab, cag, chelp, clepe, dish and dish the dirt.
What part of speech is “gossip”?
Depending on how it is used, “gossip” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gossip” come from?
The word “gossip” comes from Old English.
Is “gossip” a common word?
“Gossip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “gossip” have?
“Gossip” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: casual talk about other people's private affairs, often unverified or spread out of curiosity.
What is the difference between gossip and a rumor?
Gossip is casual talk about other people's private affairs, often spread out of curiosity, whereas a rumor is a specific unverified claim or story circulating among people. Gossip is the activity of sharing such talk, while a rumor is the individual piece of information being passed along.
What is the difference between gossip and slander?
Gossip is informal talk about others' private lives and may be true or false, while slander is a false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation and can carry legal consequences. Slander can be spread through gossip, but most gossip does not meet the legal definition of slander.
Is "gossip" always negative?
Gossip usually carries a disapproving tone because it involves sharing others' private affairs, often unverified. However, it can be used more lightly for harmless chatter about acquaintances, and the word can also simply name a person who habitually talks about other people's business.
What prepositions and adjectives are used with "gossip"?
As a verb you gossip "about" someone and gossip "with" the person you are talking to, as in "she gossiped with her sister about their neighbours." As a noun, gossip is often paired with adjectives such as "idle," "juicy," or "office."
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