Meanings
nounhearsay (usually uncountable, plural hearsays)
plural hearsays
- uncountableusuallyInformation that was heard by one person about another that cannot be adequately substantiated.
based on hearsay
1 more example
The story turned out to be nothing but hearsay.
- uncountableusuallylawEvidence based on the reports of others, which is normally inadmissible because it was not made under oath, rather than on personal knowledge.
dismiss hearsay
1 more example
The judge ruled the testimony as mere hearsay.
- uncountableusuallylawAn 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.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveheard through another rather than directly
Similar
noungossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishhyere-zigginge
- Englishhearsay
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.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian слух, мълва́
- слух (sluh)information that was heard by one person about another
- мълва́ (mălvá)information that was heard by one person about another
Chinese Mandarin 傳聞 /传闻, 風聞 /风闻
- 傳聞 /传闻 (chuánwén)information that was heard by one person about another
- 風聞 /风闻 (fēngwén)information that was heard by one person about another
- 流言 (liúyán)information that was heard by one person about another
- 傳聞證據 /传闻证据 (chuánwén zhèngjù)(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Czech klep, pověsti
- klepinformation that was heard by one person about another
- pověstiinformation that was heard by one person about another
- doslechinformation that was heard by one person about another
- zvěst z doslechuinformation that was heard by one person about another
Dutch van horen zeggen, gerucht
- van horen zeggeninformation that was heard by one person about another
- geruchtinformation that was heard by one person about another
- testimonium de auditu(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
- de-audituverklaring(law) an out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted
Finnish juoru, kuulopuhe
- juoruinformation that was heard by one person about another
- kuulopuheinformation that was heard by one person about another
- kuulopuhe(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
French ouï-dire, on-dit
- ouï-direinformation that was heard by one person about another
- on-ditinformation that was heard by one person about another
- rumeurinformation that was heard by one person about another
- ouï-dire(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
- on-dit(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
- ouï-dire(law) an out-of-court statement offered in court for the truth of the matter asserted
German Hörensagen, Gerücht
- Hörensageninformation that was heard by one person about another
- Gerüchtinformation that was heard by one person about another
- Hörensagen(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Hungarian hallomás, mendemonda
- hallomásinformation that was heard by one person about another
- mendemondainformation that was heard by one person about another
Irish scéal scéil, scéal scéil
- scéal scéilinformation that was heard by one person about another
- scéal scéil(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Italian sentito dire, diceria
- sentito direinformation that was heard by one person about another
- diceriainformation that was heard by one person about another
- pettegolezzoinformation that was heard by one person about another
- sentita persona(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Japanese 伝聞, うわさ
- 伝聞 (denbun)information that was heard by one person about another
- うわさ (uwasa)information that was heard by one person about another
- 伝聞証拠 (denbun shōko)(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Korean 전문, 소문
- 전문 (jeonmun)information that was heard by one person about another
- 소문 (somun)information that was heard by one person about another
- 전문증거 (jeonmunjeunggeo)(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Latin audītiō, rūmor
- audītiōinformation that was heard by one person about another
- rūmorinformation that was heard by one person about another
Māori tūtara
- tūtarainformation that was heard by one person about another
Norwegian Bokmål rykte
- rykteinformation that was heard by one person about another
Persian شنیده
- شنیده (šenide)information that was heard by one person about another
Polish pogłoska, plotka
- pogłoskainformation that was heard by one person about another
- plotkainformation that was heard by one person about another
- pogłoska(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Portuguese diz que diz, diz que diz que
- diz que dizinformation that was heard by one person about another
- diz que diz queinformation that was heard by one person about another
- boatoinformation that was heard by one person about another
- testemunho de ouvidos(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Russian информа́ция из вторы́х рук, молва́
- информа́ция из вторы́х рук (informácija iz vtorýx ruk)information that was heard by one person about another
- молва́ (molvá)information that was heard by one person about another
- слух (slux)information that was heard by one person about another
- то́лки (tólki)information that was heard by one person about another
- показа́ния с чужи́х слов (pokazánija s čužíx slov)(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Scottish Gaelic fathann
- fathanninformation that was heard by one person about another
Spanish rumores, habladurías
- rumoresinformation that was heard by one person about another
- habladuríasinformation that was heard by one person about another
- habladuríainformation that was heard by one person about another
- pruebas de oídas(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
- testimonio de oídas(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
- evidencia por oídas(law) evidence based on the reports of others rather than on personal knowledge
Swedish hörsägen
- hörsägeninformation that was heard by one person about another
Tagalog sabi-sabi, kuwentong-barbero
- sabi-sabiinformation that was heard by one person about another
- kuwentong-barberoinformation that was heard by one person about another
Welsh achlust
- achlustinformation that was heard by one person about another
Cite this entry
APA
hearsay. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hearsay
MLA
“hearsay.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hearsay. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hearsay,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hearsay.
Source: hearsay on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.