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Hearsay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hearsay evidence, in a legal forum, is testimony from an under-oath witness who is reciting an out-of-court statement, the content of which is being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. In most courts, hearsay evidence is inadmissible (the "hearsay evidence rule") unless an exception to the hearsay rule applies.
For example, to prove that Tom was in town, a witness testifies, "Susan told me that Tom was in town." Because the witness's evidence relies on an out-of-court statement that Susan made, if Susan is unavailable for cross-examination, the answer is hearsay. A justification for the objection is that the person who made the statement is not in court and thus not available for cross-examination. Note, however, that if the matter at hand is not the truth of the assertion about Tom being in town but the fact that Susan said the specific words, it may be acceptable. For example, it would be acceptable to ask a witness what Susan told them about Tom in a defamation case against Susan. Now the witness is asked about the opposing party's statement that constitutes a verbal act.[1][2]
The hearsay rule does not exclude the evidence if it is an operative fact. Language of commercial offer and acceptance is also admissible over a hearsay exception because the statements have independent legal significance.
Double hearsay is a hearsay statement that contains another hearsay statement itself. In a court, both layers of hearsay must be found separately admissible.
Many jurisdictions that generally disallow hearsay evidence in courts permit the more widespread use of hearsay in non-judicial hearings.

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hearsay noun
S
Definition of hearsay
1: RUMOR
like the hearsays bandied about by the medievalists
— S. N. Behrman
2 law : HEARSAY EVIDENCE

Synonyms for hearsay

buzz, dish, gossip, noise, report, rumor, scuttlebutt, talk, tattle, word
Visit the Thesaurus for More

Examples of hearsay in a Sentence
 You can't judge them solely on the basis of hearsay.
 They're supposedly getting married soon, but that's just hearsay.
Recent Examples on the Web
Prior to the joint statement, Jaden seemingly addressed the hearsay via Instagram.
— Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 2 May 2022
Thurston said claims Williams has made in his bid for the office are misleading and that his campaign is based on sensationalism and hearsay.
— Rachel Herzog, Arkansas Online, 24 Apr. 2022
Low energy people bring low energy topics: gossip, complaining, drama, politics, hearsay and current affairs.
— Jodie Cook, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2022


Phrases Containing hearsay
hearsay evidence
First Known Use of hearsay
circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Hoe­ren­sa­gen, das

Beispiel
meist in etwas nur vom Hoerensagen wissen
Bedeutung:
etwas von anderen Erzaehltes als einzige Wissensquelle

WENDUNGEN, REDENSARTEN, SPRICHW;RTER
vom Hoerensagen (aus den Erzaehlungen anderer, nicht aus eigener Erfahrung: etwas nur vom Hoerensagen kennen, wissen)