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View synonyms for hearsay

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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.


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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
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Example Sentences

As a primer on his musical achievement, the show relies a lot on hearsay.

And rather than listening to critics, he said, it is “trying to mobilize sentiment against them by using insinuation and hearsay.”

The nomination process essentially officializes gossip, as various local busybodies suggest women based on hearsay about them and their families.

He described numerous accounts of desperation among migrants related to food, water and health care access within the facility as “hearsay.”

More liberal rules allowing hearsay evidence allowed lawyers for the Brown and Goldman families to use excerpts from the Nicole’s diaries.

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hear outhearsay evidence