hearsay

[ heer-sey ]

noun

1. unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge:

   I pay no attention to hearsay.

   Synonyms: tittle-tattle, babble, scuttlebutt, talk

2. an item of idle or unverified information or gossip; rumor:

   a malicious hearsay.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by hearsay:

   hearsay knowledge;

   a hearsay report.

hearsay

/ ˈhɪəˌseɪ /

noun

1. gossip; rumour

hearsay

1. Information heard by one person about another. Hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence in a court of law because it is based on the reports of others rather than on the personal knowledge of a witness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hearsay¹

First recorded in 1525–35; originally in phrase by hear say, calque of Middle French par ouïr dire

Related Words

• gossip