hearsay

[ heer-sey ]
/ ˈhɪərˌseɪ /

noun

unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge: I pay no attention to hearsay.
an item of idle or unverified information or gossip; rumor: a malicious hearsay.

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by hearsay: hearsay knowledge; a hearsay report.

Origin of hearsay

1525–35; originally in phrase by hear say, translation of Middle French par ouïr dire

SYNONYMS FOR hearsay

Example sentences from the Web for hearsays

British Dictionary definitions for hearsays

hearsay
/ (ˈhɪəˌseɪ) /

noun

gossip; rumour

Cultural definitions for hearsays

hearsay

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.