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hearsay definition

hear·say (hir′sā′)

noun

something one has heard but does not know to be true; rumor; gossip

Etymology: < phrase to hear say, parallel to Ger hörensagen

adjective

based on hearsay

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business hearsay definition - business

law hearsay definition - legal

hearsay Synonyms

hearsay

n.

noise, scandal, report; see gossip 1, rumor 1, 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

hearsay Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • admit: There is no need to consider whether to seek to admit the hearsay if the injured party is going to give evidence.

Adjective modifier

  • mere: What is most strange about the MIB phenomenon is that it has become part of the UFO mythology on the basis of mere hearsay.

Modifies a noun

  • evidence: However, in Ireland the rules on hearsay evidence even in civil cases are very strict indeed.

Noun used with modifier

  • hand: At best this information is inadequate 3 rd hand hearsay.
hearsay usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"hearsay." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/hearsay>

APA Style

hearsay. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/hearsay

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