rumournoun [ C or U ]
UK US rumor uk/ˈruː.mər/us/ˈruː.mɚ/B2 an unofficial interesting story or piece of news that might be true or invented, and quickly spreads from person to person:
Rumours are going round (the school) about Mr Mason and his assistant.
[ + that ] She's circulating/spreading rumours that the manager is going to resign.
I heard a rumour that she'd been seeing Luke Harrison.
rumour has it
people are saying:
Rumour has it (that) you're going to be the next managing director. Is it true?
More examples
- I heard a rumour that she's leaving, but apparently there's nothing in it.
- A rumour has surfaced that the company is about to go out of business.
- The president has consistently denied the rumours.
- He denied all responsibility for the rumours that have been circulating.
- The company moved quickly to quash rumours that it is losing money.