WordValeword of mouth
promotion through people's personal recommendations
In more detail
information or news that is passed from one person to another in conversation, rather than through official sources or media
Examples
- The restaurant became popular through word of mouth, with customers telling their friends about it.
How to use word of mouth
Word of mouth refers to informal information transmission through personal conversations rather than official channels. It emphasizes the unreliable but organic nature of such communication, often used in marketing and social contexts where personal recommendations carry influence. The phrase suggests authenticity and grassroots movement rather than managed or corporate messaging.
Common phrases
- spread by word of mouth
- through word of mouth
- word of mouth recommendation
- word of mouth marketing
- generate word of mouth
Synonyms
grapevine · hearsay · oral communication · informal communication · grassroots publicity
A common mistake
Learners sometimes treat 'word of mouth' as a countable noun or try to pluralize it unnecessarily; it should remain in its fixed form without an article when used attributively (word of mouth recommendation, not 'a word of mouth recommendation').
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