Other forms: rumors
A rumor is a story passing from mouth to mouth that may not be true. Spread a rumor, hear a rumor, just a rumor.
It spreads fastest where information is scarce and the stakes are high, which is why organisations that say nothing get the worst of it. Each retelling simplifies and sharpens the story. Note the British spelling rumour; and that the Latin means common talk, from a root meaning to roar.
1nounrumorA story passing from mouth to mouth that may not be true.
“There's a rumor going around that the boss is going to leave.”
rumor is an unverified story.
Also accepted in games: rumour, gossip
Latin rumor means common talk or hearsay, from a root meaning to shout or roar.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₃rewH- — to shout, to roar
Latin
rūmor — common talk
Old French
rumeur
Middle English
rumour
English, today
rumor
From Middle English rumour, from Old French rumeur, from Latin rūmor (“common talk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃rewH- (“to shout, to roar”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in News & Communication