hearsay

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

1525–35; from phrase by hear say, translation of Middle French par ouïr dire.

Pronunciation

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Noun

hearsay (usually uncountable; plural hearsays)

1. information that was heard by one person about another
2. (law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge; normally inadmissible because not made under oath
3. (law) evidence: an out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted; normally inadmissible because not subject to cross-examination, unless the hearsay statement falls under one of the many exceptions

Synonyms

• report
• rumor
• common talk
• gossip

Translations

information that was heard by one person about another

• Finnish: juoru (fi)
• French: ouï-dire (fr) m, on-dit (fr) m (law)
• Hungarian: hallomás (hu), mendemonda (hu)
• Polish: pogłoska (pl) f

• Scottish Gaelic: fathann (gd) m
• Spanish: rumores (es) m pl, testimonio de oídas (es) m (law), habladurías (es) f pl
• Swedish: hörsägen c

evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge

• Finnish: kuulopuhe (fi)
• French: ouï-dire (fr) m, on-dit (fr) m

• Spanish: pruebas de oídas f

External links

• hearsay in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• hearsay in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911