What does grapevine mean?
A grapevine is, literally, a vine that produces grapes. Figuratively, the word refers to the informal network through which news, gossip, and rumors travel. Expressions such as "on the grapevine" mean hearing something indirectly from another person rather than receiving it from an official source. The figurative sense is strongly associated with informal communication and may suggest that the information is not fully reliable, although it does not always carry a negative connotation. The word is common in both British and American English. While the literal meaning is straightforward, the figurative use gives the plant-related expression a social meaning: a grapevine is a place where grapes grow, and metaphorically it is a channel connecting people who share information. The word is especially useful in journalism, workplaces, and everyday conversation when describing how news spreads outside formal announcements.
nounA grapevine is a vine on which grapes grow. By extension, the grapevine means an informal network through which information, news, and gossip circulate.
- A vine on which grapes grow.
- An informal means or network through which information, news, and gossip spread.
"We heard about the reorganization through the grapevine before it was officially announced."
"The old grapevine along the southern wall produces small, dark grapes."
"I heard through the grapevine that the office would be closing early."
The regular plural is "grapevines." The idiomatic expression "on the grapevine" is normally used in the singular and is not pluralized.
"Several old grapevines cover the hillside."
The grapevine is both a plant and a social network: one grows fruit, while the other spreads word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grapevine come from?
The English word is a transparent compound of "grape" and "vine." Both elements entered English through Old French and ultimately derive from Latin: grape is associated with the Latin word for a bunch or cluster of grapes, while vine comes from Latin vīnea, a vine or vineyard. The compound's figurative sense developed from the idea of information passing along a connected network, and it is related to the older expression "grapevine telegraph," a communication network that carried news indirectly.
Related word forms
How grapevine is actually used
The figurative sense is informal and often implies unofficial, incomplete, or sometimes unreliable information. In British and American English, it is commonly used in the idiom "on the grapevine."
Easily confused with grapevine
A vine is any climbing or trailing woody plant, whereas a grapevine is specifically a vine that bears grapes.