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Joke vs Rumor - What's the difference?

joke | rumor |

As a proper noun joke

is , diminutive of jo.

As a noun rumor is

(us|countable) a statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.

As a verb rumor is

(transitive|usually|used in the passive voice) to tell a rumor about; to gossip.

joke

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An amusing story.
  • * Gay
    • Or witty joke our airy senses moves / To pleasant laughter.
  • Something said or done for amusement, not in seriousness.
    • It was a joke !
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Enclose whole downs in walls, 'tis all a joke .
  • (figuratively) The root cause or main issue, especially an unexpected one
  • (figuratively) A worthless thing or person.
    • Your effort at cleaning your room is a joke .
    The president was a joke .

    Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "joke": old, bad, inside, poor, silly, funny, lame, hilarious, stupid, offensive.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bad joke * standing joke * knock-knock joke * light bulb joke * practical joke

    Related terms

    * jocular

    Coordinate terms

    * comedy * limerick * parody * pun

    Verb

    (jok)
  • To do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.
    • I didn’t mean what I said — I was only joking .
  • (dated) To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally.
    • to joke a comrade

    Related terms

    * joker

    See also

    * jeer * mock ----

    rumor

    English

    Alternative forms

    * rumour (UK, Commonwealth, International)

    Noun

  • (US, countable) A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
    • There's a rumor going round that he's going to get married.
  • (US, uncountable) Information or misinformation of the kind contained in such claims.
    • They say he used to be a thief, but that's just rumor .

    Synonyms

    * (piece of information) * (information) gossip, hearsay, talk, tittle-tattle

    Derived terms

    * rumor campaign * rumor has it

    Hypernyms

    * information

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, usually, used in the passive voice) To tell a rumor about; to gossip.
    • John is rumored to be next in line for a promotion.
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