Talking casually about other people's private affairs, often sharing rumors or unverified information.
From 'gossip' (noun), which comes from Old English 'godsibb' meaning godparent, then evolved to mean a close friend, then someone who spreads rumors. The modern meaning emerged by the 1600s.
Gossip might seem harmful, but anthropologists think humans evolved to gossip as a way to monitor social behavior and spread important community information—it's literally how we've always organized society.
Historically feminized activity; gossip was coded as trivial women's talk, while men's equivalent discussion was valued as 'discourse' or 'debate.' This gendering persists in modern usage despite class/gender research showing gossip serves social functions across all groups.
Use 'rumor-sharing,' 'informal discussion,' or 'hearsay' when neutral; note the linguistic history when gossiping is attributed primarily to women.
["rumor-sharing","informal discussion","hearsay"]
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