Hearsay Definition
hîrsā
noun
Something one has heard but does not know to be true; rumor; gossip.
Webster's New World
Webster's New World
Evidence that is not within the personal knowledge of a witness, such as testimony regarding statements made by someone other than the witness, and that therefore may be inadmissible to establish the truth of a particular contention because the accuracy of the evidence cannot be verified through cross-examination.
American Heritage
An out of court statement offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Testimony of a witness as to statements made by another individual who is not present in the courtroom to testify; generally not admissible because of unreliability (the hearsay rule), but there have been many significant exceptions to the rule, where there are certain indicia of reliability. See also excited utterance.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
adjective
Based on hearsay.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Hearsay
Noun
Singular:
hearsay
Plural:
hearsaysOrigin of Hearsay
1525–35; from phrase by hear say, translation of Middle French par ouïr dire.
From Wiktionary
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