What is the difference between Gossip and Rumor?

Gossips and rumors both involve talking about people. Gossip is almost always true and is normally information that is normally not harmful. For instance, a person could gossip about a person's new beau or moving into a home. It is gossip because the main subject of the information is not spreading it. Instead, other people are talking about it. A rumor is different because it is often harmful information about a person's character. Along with that, rumors are often not verified and could end up being false. If it is true, rumors often have additional details that are used to make the story more interesting.

You may initially think that gossip and a rumor are the same but if you would analyze them closely, you will realize that they do have some differences. When you say rumor, this means that it may be news that may have come from different sources. There is no guarantee that all of the details that will be given in the story are authentic or true. Some rumors are verified and there are also some that are not verified at all.

Gossip is also something that may be passed on from one person to another. The gossip may be connected to someone who is close to the whole group. There is usually a juicy detail that will be placed to make the gossip even more interesting to those who are listening to it.