hearsay

From the phrase by hear say, a translation of Middle French par ouïr dire (1525–1535).

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• Hyphenation: hear‧say

hearsay (usually uncountable, plural hearsays)

1. Information that was heard by one person about another that cannot be adequately substantiated.
2. (law) Evidence based on the reports of others, which is normally inadmissible because it was not made under oath, rather than on personal knowledge.
3. (law) An out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted, which is normally inadmissible because it is not subject to cross-examination unless the hearsay statement falls under one of a number of exceptions.

• double hearsay

• common talk
• gossip
• report
• rumor

• as they say
• hear
• so they say
• you know what they say

• hearsay in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hearsay in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.