Hearsay: meaning, definitions and examples

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hearsay

[ ˈhɪərseɪ ]

^{Context #1}

legal term

Information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor.

Synonyms

gossip, rumor, speculation

Examples of usage

The judge ruled the evidence as inadmissible due to lack of concrete proof and deemed it as hearsay.
The case was dismissed as it was based solely on hearsay and lacked any tangible evidence.

^{Context #2}

everyday conversation

Unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another person.

Synonyms

gossip, rumor

Examples of usage

I don't believe in hearsay, I prefer to hear things firsthand.
Don't trust everything you hear, most of it is just hearsay.

Translations

Translations of the word "hearsay" in other languages:

🇵🇹 boato

🇮🇳 अफवाह

🇩🇪 Gerücht

🇮🇩 desas-desus

🇺🇦 чутка

🇵🇱 pogłoska

🇯🇵 風聞 (ふうぶん)

🇫🇷 ouï-dire

🇪🇸 rumor

🇹🇷 dedikodu

🇰🇷 소문

🇸🇦 إشاعة

🇨🇿 pověst

🇸🇰 povesť

🇨🇳 传闻 (chuánwén)

🇸🇮 govorica

🇮🇸 orðrómur

🇰🇿 сыбыс

🇬🇪 ჭორი

🇦🇿 şayiə

🇲🇽 rumor

Word origin

The term 'hearsay' originated in the late 16th century from the combination of 'hear' and 'say'. It was initially used in legal contexts to refer to evidence based on the reports of others rather than firsthand knowledge or observation. Over time, the term has become more widely used in everyday conversation to describe unverified information or rumors passed from one person to another.

See also: hear, hearing, rehearing, rehearse, unheard.