# gossip

/ˈɡɑsəp/ (US) · /ɡˈɒsɪp/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gossip
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

talk about other people and their private lives, especially when they are not present. This talk is often not confirmed to be true and can sometimes be unkind.

For teachers: casual conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details not confirmed as being true. Primarily uncountable, but can be countable when referring to a specific instance.

## Examples

- She loves to share the latest town gossip.
- He heard some gossip about why his coworker quit, but he didn't want to spread rumors that might be untrue.
- Though routinely condemned, historians recognize that gossip has always served as a vital, if unreliable, channel for circulating information and enforcing community norms where formal communication is absent.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.