Information heard from others that may not be true; OR evidence based on what someone else said rather than direct knowledge
Everyone at the office was whispering about the manager leaving, but nobody had actually heard it from her. It was all hearsay at this point — just rumours passed from person to person. Some people were already panicking, while others refused to believe anything until they heard an official announcement.
This meaning is about information you’ve heard from other people but can’t confirm is true. Imagine someone tells you that your favourite restaurant is closing down, but they heard it from a friend who heard it from someone else — nobody actually knows for sure. This is hearsay — secondhand information that might or might not be accurate. You might dismiss something as hearsay until you see proof, or someone could warn you not to believe hearsay without checking the facts. Or picture colleagues spreading rumours about a company merger based purely on hearsay, with no official confirmation. The word suggests unreliable, unverified information. ✏️ Common phrases: “based on hearsay,” “just hearsay,” “rumour and hearsay.”
Vivid example: She’d heard through hearsay that her ex-boyfriend was engaged, but she didn’t want to believe it until she saw the announcement herself, knowing how quickly rumours spread in their small town.
This meaning is about testimony in court based on what someone else said, not what the witness directly saw or experienced. Imagine a witness saying “My neighbour told me he saw the suspect running away” — this is hearsay because the witness didn’t see it themselves. This is hearsay evidence — secondhand information presented in legal proceedings. A lawyer might object to hearsay evidence in court, or a judge could rule that hearsay is inadmissible. Or picture a case being weakened because most of the evidence was hearsay rather than direct witness accounts. The word carries the sense of legally unreliable testimony. ✏️ Legal phrase: “hearsay evidence” — generally not accepted in court because it can’t be properly cross-examined.
Vivid example: The defence lawyer objected, calling the testimony hearsay, since the witness was only repeating what her sister had told her rather than describing something she had actually witnessed herself.
Examples from the Street:
“That’s just hearsay — nobody actually saw it happen.” → That’s only rumour / secondhand information — there were no witnesses
“I heard they’re getting divorced, but it’s all hearsay at this point.” → I was told they’re splitting up, but it’s just unconfirmed gossip for now
“Hearsay isn’t admissible in court.” → Secondhand information can’t be used as evidence in legal proceedings
Hearsay as unverified secondhand information — VERY COMMON:
– just/only hearsay → merely rumour, not confirmed fact
– based on hearsay → founded on unverified information
– hearsay and rumour → common pairing emphasising unreliability
– dismiss something as hearsay → reject information as unverified
– nothing but hearsay → entirely unconfirmed information
Hearsay in legal contexts:
– hearsay evidence → secondhand testimony not admissible in court
– hearsay is inadmissible → cannot be used as legal evidence
– the hearsay rule → legal principle excluding secondhand testimony
– hearsay exception → circumstances when hearsay can be admitted
Example Sentences
1. I wouldn’t believe that story — it’s just hearsay → I wouldn’t trust that account — it’s only unverified gossip.
2. The accusations were based on hearsay rather than actual evidence → The allegations were founded on secondhand rumours rather than concrete proof.
3. Everything I know about the scandal is hearsay — I wasn’t there myself → All my knowledge of the controversy comes from others — I didn’t witness it personally.
4. The judge dismissed the testimony as hearsay and struck it from the record → The magistrate rejected the statement as unreliable secondhand information and removed it from official documents.
5. It’s all hearsay and rumour until we get official confirmation → It’s nothing but gossip and speculation until we receive formal verification.
6. You can’t fire someone based on hearsay — you need proof → You can’t sack somebody relying only on unconfirmed reports — you require solid evidence.
7. Hearsay evidence is generally not allowed in criminal trials → Secondhand testimony is typically excluded from court cases involving crimes.
8. Don’t spread hearsay — you could damage someone’s reputation unfairly → Don’t pass on unverified information — you might harm someone’s good name without justification.
9. The article was nothing but hearsay — not a single named source → The piece contained only unconfirmed claims — there wasn’t one identified person quoted.
10. I’ve heard they’re closing the factory, but that’s only hearsay at this stage → Someone told me they’re shutting down the plant, but that’s merely rumour for now.
Learner Examples
1. Teachers shouldn’t discipline students based on hearsay — they need to investigate properly first → Instructors shouldn’t punish learners relying only on secondhand accounts — they must look into the matter thoroughly beforehand.
2. Much of what students believe about exam difficulty is just hearsay from older students → A lot of what learners think about how hard tests are is merely unverified gossip passed down from those in higher years.
✔ Native usage tips
– Originally a legal term, now widely used — “hearsay” comes from courtroom language where it has a specific technical meaning, but it’s now commonly used in everyday speech to mean any unverified secondhand information
– Uncountable noun — “hearsay” doesn’t have a plural form. You say “a lot of hearsay” not “many hearsays.” It works like “gossip” or “information”
– “Just hearsay” is dismissive — saying something is “just hearsay” immediately undermines its credibility. It’s a powerful way to cast doubt on information
– Legal meaning is more specific — in law, “hearsay” specifically means testimony about what someone else said, offered to prove the truth of the statement. The everyday meaning is broader
– Different from “rumour” — while similar, “hearsay” emphasises the secondhand nature of information (you heard someone say it), while “rumour” emphasises it’s unconfirmed and spreading. They often overlap
– Sounds more educated than “gossip” — using “hearsay” instead of “gossip” gives your speech a slightly more sophisticated, formal tone. It’s less judgmental about the people spreading information
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Rumour → more informal; emphasises unconfirmed status and social spreading; “there’s a rumour going around” is more casual than “it’s hearsay”
– Gossip → more negative connotation; often implies malicious or trivial talk about people; “hearsay” sounds more neutral and factual
– Speculation → focuses on guessing about the future or unknown facts; “hearsay” is specifically about what you’ve heard others say; “speculation” is what you theorise might be true