Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense gossips, present participle gossiping, past tense, past participle gossiped
1. variable noun
Gossip is informal conversation, often about other people's private affairs.
He spent the first hour talking gossip.
There has been much gossip about the possible reasons for his absence.
Don't you like a good gossip?
Synonyms: idle talk, scandal, hearsay, tittle-tattle More Synonyms of gossip
2. verb
If you gossip with someone, you talk informally, especially about other people or local events. You can also say that two people gossip.
We spoke, debated, gossiped into the night. [VERB]
Eva gossiped with Sarah. [VERB + with]
Mrs Lilywhite never gossiped. [VERB]
Synonyms: chat, chatter, blather, schmooze [slang] More Synonyms of gossip
3. countable noun
If you describe someone as a gossip, you mean that they enjoy talking informally to people about the private affairs of others.
[disapproval]
He was a vicious gossip.
Synonyms: busybody, babbler, prattler, chatterbox [informal] More Synonyms of gossip
gossip in British English1
(ˈɡɒsɪp)
noun
1.
casual and idle chat
to have a gossip with a friend
2.
a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumours about other people
a gossip about the neighbours
3. Also called: gossipmonger
a person who habitually talks about others, esp maliciously
4.
light easy communication
to write a letter full of gossip
5. archaic
a close woman friend
verbWord forms: -sips, -siping or -siped
6. (intransitive; often foll byabout)
to talk casually or maliciously (about other people)
Derived forms
gossiper (ˈgossiper) or gossipper (ˈgossipper)
noun
gossiping (ˈgossiping)
noun, adjective
gossipingly (ˈgossipingly)
adverb
gossipy (ˈgossipy)
adjective
Word origin
Old English godsibb godparent, from god + sib; the term came to be applied to familiar friends, esp a woman's female friends atthe birth of a child, hence a person, esp a woman, fond of light talk
gossip in British English2
(ˈɡɒsɪp)
noun acronym for informal
gadget-obsessed, status-symbol infatuated professional
gossip in American English
(ˈgɑsəp)
noun
1. Dialectal
a.
a godparent
b.
a close friend
2.
a person who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors, esp. about the private affairs of others
3.
a.
such talk or rumors
b.
chatter
verb intransitive
4.
to be a gossip or engage in gossip
Derived forms
gossipy (ˈgossipy)
adjective
Word origin
ME godsip, gossyp (with assimilated -d-) < Late OE godsibbe, godparent: see god & sib
COBUILD Collocations
gossip
celebrity gossip
hot gossip
juicy gossip
malicious gossip
office gossip
salacious gossip
Examples of 'gossip' in a sentence
gossip
He was offered more work on the gossip column the next week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You enjoy workplace gossip but it's sensible to wait for the facts.
The Sun (2017)
Yet he wasn't one to gossip about his famous sitters.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
With gossip as good as this, how long will it be before it spreads?
The Sun (2017)
Work-wise, a cool smile is the best reply to hot gossip.
The Sun (2016)
He's rarely in the gossip columns.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You suspect that they probably had a good old gossip about how the blokes botched up the Brexit referendum.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I don't gossip about people over lunch.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You enjoy the gossip you hear but the facts could be much better for you.
The Sun (2009)
Anonymous sources told gossip websites that the relationship is serious.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Footballers gossip about schemes elsewhere and often cast envious eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You may like the gossip but the real facts could be intriguing.
The Sun (2009)
This pair should get the gossip columnists all hot and bothered.
The Sun (2012)
His looks made him a gift for the gossip columns.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is where you pick up all the local gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We learn that people who gossip about little things will also spread the news about big things.
Christianity Today (2000)
Well happily the internet and the gossip magazines are awash with ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In our work we may often be caught in idle conversation or gossip.
Bertodano, Theresa (ed.) Daily Readings with Mother Theresa (1993)
Industry gossip says money is one reason.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Gossip is much more than small talk.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is no gossip or talk of what is going on at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The village shop is a focal point for a chat and gossip.
The Sun (2015)
But resist saying too much to a friend who gossips.
The Sun (2014)
You may like gossip you hear but the facts are much more intriguing.
The Sun (2013)
People come in to share a pint or a cup of tea and exchange gossip and news about the village.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Certainly a good source of gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Just smile at the hot gossip.
The Sun (2009)
She should fly above the fray of celebrity, gossip and national chatter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is very trustworthy, but loves a good gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But then she was splashed all over websites and gossip mags after shedding an astonishing 3st in a matter of months.
The Sun (2014)
We've also redesigned and renamed our great chat rooms where you can enjoy a good gossip with all your old bingo friends.
The Sun (2008)
Quotations
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked aboutOscar WildeThe Picture of Dorian Gray
Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those that diffuse it; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smokerGeorge EliotDaniel Deronda
In other languages
gossip
British English: gossip /ˈɡɒsɪp/ NOUN
Gossip is informal conversation, often about other people's private affairs.
There has been gossip about the reasons for his absence.
American English: gossip
Arabic: قِيلٌ و قَال
Brazilian Portuguese: fofoca
Chinese: 闲话
Croatian: trač
Czech: drby řeči
Danish: sladder
Dutch: roddeltje
European Spanish: cotilleo
Finnish: juoru
French: ragot
German: Klatsch
Greek: κουτσομπολιό
Italian: pettegolezzo
Japanese: うわさ話
Korean: 가십
Norwegian: sladder
Polish: plotka
European Portuguese: fofoca
Romanian: bârfă
Russian: сплетня
Latin American Spanish: chisme
Swedish: skvaller
Thai: การนินทา
Turkish: dedikodu
Ukrainian: плітки
Vietnamese: chuyện phiếm
British English: gossip /ˈɡɒsɪp/ VERB
If you gossip with someone, you talk informally with them, especially about other people or local events.
They sat at the kitchen table gossiping.
American English: gossip
Arabic: يَنْهَمِكُ في القِيلِ والقَال
Brazilian Portuguese: fofocar
Chinese: 说闲话
Croatian: tračati
Czech: klábosit
Danish: sludre med
Dutch: roddelen
European Spanish: cotillear
Finnish: juoruta
French: cancaner
German: schwatzen
Greek: κουτσομπολεύω
Italian: spettegolare
Japanese: うわさ話をする
Korean: 수군거리다
Norwegian: sladre
Polish: oplotkować
European Portuguese: fofocar
Romanian: a bârfi
Russian: сплетничать
Latin American Spanish: chismorrear
Swedish: skvallra
Thai: นินทา
Turkish: dedikodu yapmak
Ukrainian: пліткувати
Vietnamese: buôn chuyện
All related terms of 'gossip'
gossip mill
a source of unofficial and unreliable information
hot gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs.
gossip column
A gossip column is a part of a newspaper or magazine where the activities and private lives of famous people are discussed.
juicy gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs .
office gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs.
celebrity gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs.
gossip columnist
a person who writes a gossip column
malicious gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs.
salacious gossip
Gossip is informal conversation , often about other people's private affairs .
idle talk, usually about other people's private lives, esp. of a disapproving or malicious nature
There has been a lot of gossip about the reasons for his absence.a magazine packed with celebrity gossip
Synonyms
idle talk
scandal
He loved gossip and scandal.
hearsay
Much of what was reported to them was hearsay.
tittle-tattle
tittle-tattle about the private lives of celebrities
buzz
The buzz is that she knows something.
dirt (slang)
Both parties use computers to dig up dirt on their opponents.
goss (informal)
jaw (slang)
gen (British, informal)
small talk
chitchat
blether
scuttlebutt (US, slang)
chinwag (British, informal)
clishmaclaver (Scottish)
newsmongering (old-fashioned)
2 (noun)
Definition
a person who habitually talks about other people, usually maliciously
I bet the old gossips back home are really shocked.
Synonyms
busybody
Some busybody tipped off the police.
babbler
prattler
chatterbox (informal)
My five-year-old daughter's a real little chatterbox.
quidnunc
blether
chatterer
scandalmonger
blatherskite
newsmonger (old-fashioned)
gossipmonger
tattletale mainly US, Canadian)
(verb)
Definition
to talk idly or maliciously, esp. about other people's private lives
We gossiped well into the night.
Synonyms
chat
I was just chatting to him the other day.
chatter
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
blather
He kept on blathering about incompetence.
schmooze (slang)
jaw (slang)
jawing for half an hour with the very affable waiter
dish the dirt (informal)
blether
shoot the breeze (slang, mainly US)
chew the fat or rag (slang)
prattle
She prattled on until I wanted to scream.
prate
Quotations
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about [Oscar Wilde – The Picture of Dorian Gray]Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those that diffuse it; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker [George Eliot – Daniel Deronda]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blather
He kept on blathering about incompetence.
Synonyms
chatter,
ramble,
mumble,
babble,
waffle (informal, British),
rabbit on (British, informal),
drivel,
yap (informal),
tattle,
jabber,
gabble,
blether,
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate
in the sense of buzz
The buzz is that she knows something.
Synonyms
gossip,
news,
report,
latest (informal),
word,
scandal,
rumour,
whisper (informal),
dirt (slang),
gen (British, informal),
hearsay,
scuttlebutt (US, slang),
goss (informal)
in the sense of chatter
Definition
to speak quickly and continuously about unimportant things
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.