What does hearsay mean?
Hearsay means information that one person has heard from another, rather than knowledge gained through direct observation or experience. It is often used when describing rumors, allegations, or claims that cannot easily be checked. The word commonly carries a skeptical or dismissive connotation: relying on hearsay alone is generally considered unwise because the original source may be mistaken, selective, or unreliable. In legal and parliamentary contexts, however, hearsay has a more technical meaning, referring to an out-of-court statement offered as evidence of the truth of what it says. Rules about whether such statements can be admitted are among the most complex in evidence law. The word is also useful for recognizing how information travels: a report can become detached from its origin and sound more certain as it is repeated. Thus, hearsay describes both a familiar social problem and a formal evidentiary category.
nounInformation or a report received from another person rather than from direct observation or experience, especially when regarded as unreliable or unverified.
- Information or a report heard from another person rather than witnessed or experienced directly, often regarded as uncertain or unreliable.
- In law, a statement offered as evidence of the truth of the matter asserted, which is generally inadmissible unless an exception applies.
"The committee dismissed the accusation as hearsay."
"I would not make a serious decision on the strength of hearsay alone."
"The lawyer objected to the witness's testimony as hearsay."
Rare and countable; hearsay is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"These hearsays repeat claims that no one can verify."
Some of the most consequential claims in history began as hearsay: a rumor repeated until it looked like evidence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hearsay come from?
Hearsay is a Middle English compound formed from Old English hīeran, meaning “to hear,” and secgan, meaning “to say,” so its literal sense is “heard saying.” It belongs to a Germanic family of English words represented by hear, heard, hearing, and hearken. Its legal sense developed from the idea of a statement transmitted by someone other than the person who made it.
How hearsay is actually used
Hearsay is normally uncountable and has a somewhat formal or dismissive tone, implying that the information lacks reliable firsthand support. In legal contexts, it refers to the category of evidence rather than simply to gossip or rumor.
Easily confused with hearsay
A hearse is the vehicle used to carry a coffin at a funeral, whereas hearsay is information passed from one person to another.