rumor

/ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/

//ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"rumor" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rumor” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #10,761. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#10,761
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
7
tracked misspellings
13
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.

Corpus desk

Index EN-rumor · rumor · English

rumor · rank #10,761 · 7 variants · 13 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #10,761
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 13 pairs
  • VAR-MID 7 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH sacked

Nearest frequency peer: sacked (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “rumor”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “rumor” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

rumor vs rump
60% similar
rumor vs rumour
83% similar
rumor vs rumored
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for rumor
PropertyValue
Headwordrumor
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/
Letters5
Frequency rank#10,761
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs13
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “rumor”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).rumorlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “sacked” (#10,762), “roasted” (#10,759), “saddle” (#10,763). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “rumor” is #10,761. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 7 spelling variants around rumor (IPA /ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #10,761 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for rumor, with forms such as "rmuor", "rrumor", and "rummor". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 13 confusable-pair relationships, "rump", "rumour", "rumored", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English rumour, from Old French rumeur, from Latin rūmor (“common talk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewH- (“to shout, to roar”). The correct English form is rumor, spelled R-U-M-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
  2. 2
    Information or misinformation of the kind contained in such claims.
  3. 3
    Report, news, information in general.
  4. 4
    Fame, reputation.
  5. 5
    Clamor, din, outcry.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how rumor appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. There's a rumor going round that he's going to get married.
  2. a rumor going round

Etymology

From Middle English rumour, from Old French rumeur, from Latin rūmor (“common talk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewH- (“to shout, to roar”).

Synonyms

gossiphearsaytalktittle-tattlebruitbuzztidbitfamemooton ditrumorsoughmutteringnoisetalewordword on the streetword on the wirewhisperwhispering

This word in other languages

rumor(Español)rumeur(Français)Gerücht(Deutsch)rumor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • rmuor
  • rrumor
  • rummor
  • rumorr
  • rumro
  • ruomr
  • urmor

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of rumor - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

rmuor2rrumor1rummor1rumorr1rumro2ruomr2urmor2
Edit distance from "rumor"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "rumor"?
"rumor" is spelled R-U-M-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/.
What does "rumor" mean?
As a noun, "rumor" means: A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
What words are commonly confused with "rumor"?
"rumor" is commonly confused with "rump", "rumour", "rumored". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "rumor"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rumor" is /ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "rumor"?
From Middle English rumour, from Old French rumeur, from Latin rūmor (“common talk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewH- (“to shout, to roar”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "rumor", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 5 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

retro#10,756renew#10,753proxy#10,749stoke#10,775

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).

saddle7 variantssorrow7 variantsSutton7 variantstaller7 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list