What does rumormongering mean?
Rumormongering is the practice of spreading rumors, especially stories that are false, exaggerated, or unsupported by reliable evidence. Unlike simply telling a rumor, it often suggests a pattern of repeated dissemination for effect, whether to create excitement, damage someone's reputation, or manipulate public opinion. The word commonly appears in journalism and political discussion, and it has become particularly relevant in conversations about misinformation on social media. It can refer to behavior generally, as in "a campaign of rumormongering," or to a particular instance of such conduct. Because the term is inherently disparaging, speakers should distinguish genuinely verified reporting from allegations, exaggeration, and stories repeated without evidence.
nounThe act of repeatedly telling unverified or false stories as though they were true. It often carries the implication that the teller is deliberately spreading harmful or sensational information.
- The activity of spreading unverified or false information, especially to stir excitement, damage a reputation, or manipulate others.
"The company condemned the rumormongering that followed the inaccurate announcement."
"Social media posts became a breeding ground for rumormongering during the crisis."
"She warned that repeating the allegation would only encourage further rumormongering."
The plural is uncommon; the singular is normally used in a mass sense.
"The rumormongerings surrounding the takeover affected investor confidence."
Rumor travels fast; rumormongering gives it a running start.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rumormongering come from?
The word combines “rumor” with “-mongering,” a suffix denoting the trading or spreading of something. “Rumor” comes through Old French from Latin rumor, meaning common talk or report, while “monger” has an Old English ancestry and historically referred to a trader or dealer. The compound therefore describes the activity of trafficking in reports, particularly unverified ones.
Related word forms
How rumormongering is actually used
The term is usually negative and implies irresponsible or malicious propagation of information. It is especially common in journalism, politics, business, and discussions of online misinformation.
Easily confused with rumormongering
A rumor is an individual report or piece of information that may or may not be true, whereas rumormongering is the practice of actively spreading such reports.