# hearsay

/ˈhiɹˌseɪ/ (US) · /hˈiəseɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hearsay
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. inadmissible evidence

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

evidence in a court of law that is based on what someone else said, rather than what a witness saw directly.

For teachers: an out-of-court statement offered in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted, generally inadmissible unless an exception applies.

- The judge told the jury to ignore the witness's comment because it was hearsay.
- The defence attorney raised a timely objection, claiming the testimony constituted inadmissible hearsay since the original declarant was unavailable for cross-examination.

Usage: Often used as a modifier in the phrase 'hearsay evidence' or as a standalone noun in legal objections.

Teaching tip: In legal English, this is a precise technical term; in general English, it is a more flexible synonym for rumour.

## Examples

- I cannot believe that story because it is just hearsay.
- The judge told the jury to ignore the witness's comment, ruling that it was inadmissible hearsay.
- While the journalist suspected the minister was involved in the scandal, she refused to publish the story based on mere hearsay without documented proof or a direct quote from a primary source.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.