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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

hearsay en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈhɪəseɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Canada) audio
  • /ˈhɪɹˌseɪ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈhɪəsæɪ/ (Australia)
  • (California) audio

Etymology

From Middle English hyere-zigginge (1340), here sey (ca. 1438), from the phrase heren seien (“to hear [people] say”). Compare equally old Middle High German hœrsagen (14th c.), whence modern Hörensagen.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable, usually) Information that was heard by one person about another that cannot be adequately substantiated.
    • The story turned out to be nothing but hearsay.
    • based on hearsay
  2. (uncountable, usually) Evidence based on the reports of others, which is normally inadmissible because it was not made under oath, rather than on personal knowledge.
    • The judge ruled the testimony as mere hearsay.
    • dismiss hearsay
  3. (uncountable, usually) An out-of-court statement offered in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted (or the in-court testimony which recites such a statement), which is normally inadmissible (because it is not subject to cross-examination) unless it falls under one of a number of exceptions.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
hearsays Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

hearsay evidence · double hearsay

Relateds

you know what they say · as they say · hear tell · hear · so they say

Synonyms

rumor · gossip · report

Translations (77)

fr on-dit ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · nl de-audituverklaring ((law) an out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted) · cmn 傳聞證據 /传闻证据 ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · it sentito dire (information that was heard by one person about another) · fr ouï-dire ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · mk гла́сина (information that was heard by one person about another) · ka ჩვენება სხვისი სიტყვების მიხედვით ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · la rūmor (information that was heard by one person about another) · ka ჩვენება, დაფუძნებული გაგონილზე ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · de Gerücht (information that was heard by one person about another) · pt diz que diz que (information that was heard by one person about another) · es habladuría (information that was heard by one person about another) · de Hörensagen ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · ga scéal scéil (information that was heard by one person about another) · es testimonio de oídas ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · pl pogłoska (information that was heard by one person about another) · mi tūtara (information that was heard by one person about another) · fr rumeur (information that was heard by one person about another) · nv jiní jiní (information that was heard by one person about another) · cs pověsti (information that was heard by one person about another) · cmn 風聞 /风闻 (information that was heard by one person about another) · nb rykte (information that was heard by one person about another) · ota تواتر (information that was heard by one person about another) · ko 전문증거 ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · fi kuulopuhe ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · nl testimonium de auditu ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · pl plotka (information that was heard by one person about another) · bg мълва́ (information that was heard by one person about another) · ru то́лки (information that was heard by one person about another) · ru слух (information that was heard by one person about another) · ko 소문 (information that was heard by one person about another) · de Hörensagen (information that was heard by one person about another) · nl gerucht (information that was heard by one person about another) · ko 전문 (information that was heard by one person about another) · cs zvěst z doslechu (information that was heard by one person about another) · ru молва́ (information that was heard by one person about another) · it sentita persona ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · sv hörsägen (information that was heard by one person about another) · ru информа́ция из вторы́х рук (information that was heard by one person about another) · nl van horen zeggen (information that was heard by one person about another) · hu mendemonda (information that was heard by one person about another) · es habladurías (information that was heard by one person about another) · hu hallomás (information that was heard by one person about another) · it diceria (information that was heard by one person about another) · tl sabi-sabi (information that was heard by one person about another) · ka სხვის სიტყვებზე დამყარებული ჩვენება ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · fa شنیده (information that was heard by one person about another) · es evidencia por oídas ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · bcl huring-huding (information that was heard by one person about another) · gd fathann (information that was heard by one person about another) · mk слух (information that was heard by one person about another) · ru показа́ния с чужи́х слов ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · fi kuulopuhe (information that was heard by one person about another) · pt boato (information that was heard by one person about another) · fr on-dit (information that was heard by one person about another) · cs klep (information that was heard by one person about another) · it pettegolezzo (information that was heard by one person about another) · es rumores (information that was heard by one person about another) · ja 伝聞 (information that was heard by one person about another) · ja 伝聞証拠 ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · tl kuwentong-barbero (information that was heard by one person about another) · cs doslech (information that was heard by one person about another) · fr ouï-dire (information that was heard by one person about another) · fr ouï-dire ((law) an out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted) · es pruebas de oídas ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · ja うわさ (information that was heard by one person about another) · fi juoru (information that was heard by one person about another) · cmn 傳聞 /传闻 (information that was heard by one person about another) · cy achlust (information that was heard by one person about another) · la audītiō (information that was heard by one person about another) · ka ჩვენება სხვისი ნათქვამიდან ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · pl pogłoska ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · pt testemunho de ouvidos ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · ga scéal scéil ((law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge) · bg слух (information that was heard by one person about another) · cmn 流言 (information that was heard by one person about another) · pt diz que diz (information that was heard by one person about another)