HEARSAY

hearsay

(adjective) heard through another rather than directly; “hearsay information”

rumor, rumour, hearsay

(noun) gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

hearsay (usually uncountable, plural hearsays)

Information that was heard by one person about another that cannot be adequately substantiated.

(law) Evidence based on the reports of others, which is normally inadmissible because it was not made under oath, rather than on personal knowledge.

(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.

Synonyms

• common talk

• gossip

• report

• rumor

Source: Wiktionary

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Hear"say`, n.

Definition: Report; rumor; fame; common talk; something heard from another. Much of the obloquy that has so long rested on the memory of our great national poet originated in frivolous hearsays of his life and conversation. Prof. Wilson. Hearsay evidence (Law), that species of testimony which consists in a a narration by one person of matters told him by another. It is, with a few exceptions, inadmissible as testimony. Abbott.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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