Scuttlebutt: meaning, definitions and examples

Used often in informal settings, particularly among sailors or in office environments, to refer to unofficial or speculative news.

• Have you heard the latest scuttlebutt about the new manager?
• The scuttlebutt at the water cooler is that we might get a bonus this year.

Typically involves sharing personal or sensational information about others, often with a negative connotation. It's common in social groups and can be viewed as harmful or invasive.

• She was known for spreading gossip about her neighbors.
• Office gossip can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and conflict.

Unverified information that circulates, often causing uncertainty or anxiety. Rumors can be spread intentionally or unintentionally and are usually speculative.

• There are rumors going around that the company is planning layoffs.
• He heard a rumor that she might move to a different city.

Refers to casual, friendly conversation, often light and insignificant. It doesn't necessarily involve spreading news or rumors.

• The kids' chatter filled the room with joy.
• There was a constant chatter among the guests at the party.

This word is often used in a light-hearted or nautical context to refer to rumors or unofficial news. It is less common in everyday conversation but can be used humorously or to add a colorful twist to a statement.

• The scuttlebutt on the ship is that we're headed for a tropical island.
• There's some scuttlebutt going around the office about a possible merger.

This term is used metaphorically to describe informal conversations that happen in the workplace, usually when employees gather around the water cooler. It can encompass both gossip and general chitchat about work or personal lives.

• I heard the latest water cooler talk about the changes in our department.
• It's amazing how much you can learn just by joining in the water cooler conversations.