hearsay
Information received from other people that one cannot personally substantiate; rumor.
Hearsay is specifically information passed along by word of mouth without direct evidence. In legal contexts, it refers to out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, which are generally inadmissible.
Word relationships
- rumor: Rumor is a general term for unverified stories, while hearsay specifically emphasizes the act of repeating what one heard others say.
- firsthand evidence: Firsthand evidence is direct observation or proof, whereas hearsay is secondary and unverified.
Commonly confused with
- gossip: Gossip often focuses on personal or scandalous details of people's lives, whereas hearsay can refer to any unverified report, personal or professional.
Collocations
- mere hearsay
- hearsay evidence
- hearsay rule
Example sentences
- "The judge ruled that the witness's testimony was mere hearsay and therefore inadmissible in court." Legal proceeding
Memory hook
Think of hearing someone say something behind closed doors—you only have their 'hear-say' to go on. Hear it, say it, but don't prove it.
When not to use
Do not use hearsay when referring to written evidence or direct, eyewitness testimony.
Fun facts
- In legal systems, the 'hearsay rule' has dozens of complex exceptions, making it one of the most heavily debated concepts in law school.
Related words
Explore more words
unsubstantiated, allegation, evidence, testimony, admissible, testify
Also appears in
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