hearsay

Everyday

1. Things you have heard from other people but do not know are true; rumour. tree →
2. (law) Evidence in court about what someone else said, not what the witness saw themselves; it is often not allowed. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it warns that a story is gossip; in law and history lessons it is weak evidence. Phrases: it's just hearsay, based on hearsay, hearsay evidence.

Examples

• That's just hearsay, nobody actually saw it. tree →
• You shouldn't believe hearsay about people. tree →
• The judge said the statement was hearsay. tree →
• The story spread round school by hearsay. tree →
• Is this a fact or just hearsay? tree →
• Good journalists check facts instead of printing hearsay. tree →

Note

Uncountable. From hear + say. Checking sources is the way to tell fact from hearsay.