hearsay
/ˈhɪər.seɪ/
information received from other people that cannot be verified
The detective dismissed the evidence because it was based on hearsay.
The detective rejected the evidence because it came from unverified sources.
formal
Information received from other people that cannot be verified as true or false.
In court, hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence.
In legal proceedings, unverified information from others is not accepted as proof.
Hearsay is often unreliable because the source of the information is unknown or unverified.
Collocations
based on hearsayrelying on unverified informationcirculate as hearsayspread as unverified information
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Legal Context
In law, hearsay is typically excluded as evidence because it lacks firsthand verification.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'heresay,' from Old French 'oresoi,' meaning 'to hear.'
Usage Notes
Hearsay is often used in legal contexts to describe information that cannot be confirmed as true.
English Dictionary