A rumor is an unverified claim circulating among people for whom it matters. It commonly arises in ambiguous or potentially threatening situations and serves sensemaking or threat management. Unverified does not mean false; the claim’s accuracy and the concerns behind its circulation require separate attention.
- Entry typeKey concept
What these mean
Editorial orientation · Entry type
Key concept
Key concepts are the working vocabulary of the field: the terms that the models and tools rely on and that a decision about communication has to use precisely. Each entry defines the term and sends you to the brief or the self-guided audit where it is put to work.