Hearsay

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hearsay

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

HEER-say  /ˈhɪəseɪ/

Definition

Information received from other people that cannot be substantiated or verified; rumour; in law, evidence based on reports of what others have said rather than on direct, personal knowledge — generally inadmissible in court.

Plain meaning

Hearsay is information you have heard from someone else — not something you witnessed or verified yourself. In law, hearsay evidence is what someone said they heard rather than what they personally witnessed — usually not admitted as evidence.

Register

Neutral in everyday speech; technical and precise in legal contexts. It's just hearsay is a standard dismissal of unverified information in everyday speech. In law, hearsay has a technical meaning distinct from ordinary vagueness or rumour.