What does gossiped mean?
Gossiped is the simple past tense and past participle of gossip, and it is most often used for talking about other people's private lives or personal details. The word carries a generally negative or mildly disapproving connotation because such talk is often repetitive, unreliable, or intended to stir trouble, although it can be neutral when it simply means chatting socially. “They gossiped over coffee” sounds more relaxed than “They gossiped about the scandal,” where the object and context make the sense more clearly negative. In formal writing, a more neutral verb such as “discussed” or “talked” may be preferable. The word is not limited to British or American English; its pronunciation varies by accent. Its history is unusually vivid: gossip began as a term for a godparent or baptismal sponsor before developing into the language of casual talk and rumor. The form “gossiped” therefore suggests completed or habitual informal talk, often about people absent from the conversation.
verbTo talk about other people, especially their private affairs, typically in a casual or malicious way; to tattle.
- To talk about other people's private affairs, especially in a malicious, unkind, or gossipy way.
- To engage in casual, informal social conversation.
"She gossiped about her neighbor's argument all over town."
"The neighbors gossiped about the mayor's private life."
"They gossiped over drinks while waiting for the train."
Gossip began as a word for a godparent, but its modern meaning is the colorful opposite of keeping a confidence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gossiped come from?
Gossip traces to Old English godsibb, literally “god-relative,” formed from god and sibb, an Old English word meaning “kin.” It originally referred to a godparent or a sponsor who participated in a child's baptism, and its sense later broadened through ideas of sponsorship and shared news to mean idle or informal talk. The verb subsequently came to denote talking about other people's affairs. Related forms such as godparent and sibling preserve elements of this older family and kinship vocabulary.
Related word forms
How gossiped is actually used
Usually informal. Its dominant sense often has a negative or mildly disapproving connotation, suggesting talk that is idle, unkind, or unreliable, though the verb can be neutral when it simply means chatting socially.
Easily confused with gossiped
Gossip can be a noun or the base form of the verb, whereas gossiped is specifically the simple past and past participle.