1. Light informal conversation for social occasions
   "The cocktail party was filled with gossip about recent movies and local events";
   - chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chit chat [informal], small talk, gab [informal], gabfest [N. Amer, informal], tittle-tattle, chin-wag [Brit, informal], chin-wagging [Brit, informal], causerie, bavardage [literary], chinwag [Brit, informal]
    
2. A report (often malicious) about the behaviour of other people
   "the divorce caused much gossip";
   - comment, scuttlebutt [N. Amer, informal], goss [Brit, informal]
    
3. A person who habitually spreads rumours or private information about others
   "The office gossip always seemed to know everyone's business";
   - gossiper, gossipmonger, rumormonger [US], rumourmonger [Brit, Cdn], newsmonger

1. Talk informally about someone else's private or personal business, esp. spreading negative or scandalous information even though it has not been confirmed to be true
   "She won't gossip";
   - dish the dirt [informal], dish [N. Amer, informal]
    
2. Talk socially without exchanging too much information
   "the men were sitting in the cafe and gossiping";
   - chew the fat [informal], shoot the breeze [N. Amer, informal], chat, confabulate, confab [informal], chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chatter, chaffer, natter [informal], jaw [informal], claver [UK, dialect], visit [N. Amer, informal], gas [informal], chew the rag [informal], gab [informal], chinwag [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: gossiping, gossips, gossiped

Type of: account, chat, communicator, confab [informal], confabulation, converse, discourse, natter [informal], report, schmoose [informal], schmooze [informal], speak, talk

Encyclopedia: Gossip