Gossip

Pronunciation

Origin

From Middle English gossib, godsib ("a close friend or relation, a confidant"), from Old English godsibb ("godparent, sponsor"), equivalent to god + sib.

Full definition of gossip

Noun

1. Someone who likes to talk about someone else’s private or personal business.
2. Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially someone not present.
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 2/5, “I ought to arise and go forth with timbrel and with dances ; but, do you know, I am not inclined to revels ?...not that I don't adore dinners and gossip and dances ; …”
3. A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.
• 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody Chapter 1, Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracy … distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its savour.
4. (obsolete) A sponsor; a godfather or godmother.
• John Selden (1584-1654)Should a great lady that was invited to be a gossip, in her place send her kitchen maid, 'twould be ill taken.

Synonyms

• scuttle-butt

Verb

1. To talk about someone else's private or personal business, especially in a way that spreads the information.
2. To talk idly.

Synonyms

• (talk about someone else's private or personal business) blab, talk out of turn, tell tales out of school