Definition of GOSSIP

gossip

Meanings

Plural: gossips

Noun

  • light informal conversation for social occasions
  • a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people
    • "the divorce caused much gossip"
  • a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others
  • Someone who likes to talk about other people's private or personal business.
  • Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially someone not present.
  • Idle conversation in general.
  • A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.
  • Communication done using a gossip protocol.
  • A sponsor; a godfather or godmother; the godparent of one's child or godchild, or the parent of one's godchild.
  • A familiar acquaintance.
  • Title used with the name of one's child's godparent or of a friend.

Verb

  • wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or intimacies
  • talk socially without exchanging too much information
  • To talk about someone else's private or personal business, especially in a manner that spreads the information.
  • To talk idly.
  • To stand godfather to; to provide godparents for.
  • To enjoy oneself during festivities, to make merry.
  • To communicate using a gossip protocol.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English godsybbe, godsib (“a close friend or relation, a confidant; a godparent”), from Old English godsibb (“godparent, sponsor”), equivalent to god + sib. Doublet of godsib. For sense evolution to "gossip, discussing others' personal affairs," compare French commérage.

Synonyms

babble, bavardage, bibble-babble, blab, blabber, blabbermouth, blabbing, blabtale, blabtongue, blather, blathering, bruit, busybody, buzz, buzzer, cag, carrytale, causerie, chaffer, chat, chatter, chelp, chew the fat, chin wag, chin wagging, chin-wag, chin-wagging, chinwag, chit chat, chit-chat, chitchat, claver, clepe, comment, confab, confabulate, dirt, dish, dish the dirt, fame, fetch and carry, friend, gab, gabble, gabfest, godsib, gossip, gossiper, gossipmonger, hearsay, hot air, jaunder, jaw, labrish, mardle, meddler, moot, mouth, mumblenews, muttering, natter, newsmonger, noise, on dit, palaver, prate, prattle, rumor, rumormonger, rumourmonger, scandal, scandalmonger, scuttlebutt, shoot the breeze, shoot the shit, sleazemonger, small talk, sough, spill the tea, sponsor, tabby, tale, talebearer, talk, talk out of turn, tattle, tattletale, tell tales out of school, telltale, telltale tit, titivil, tittle-tattle, town crier, twaddle, visit, waffle, whisper, whisperer, whispering, word, word on the street, word on the wire, yackety-yak, yap, yatter

Scrabble Score: 9

gossip is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
gossip is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gossip is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

gossip is a valid Words With Friends word