hearsay
Unverified passed-along talk
Hearsay is information received secondhand—something you heard someone else say rather than witnessed yourself.
In everyday use, hearsay suggests unreliable gossip or rumor: That's just hearsay.
In law, hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered as evidence, generally inadmissible because the original speaker isn't available for cross-examination.
Unconfirmed circulating story
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- grapevineInformal gossip network
word-of-mouth · buzz · innuendo · backbiting · slander · dirt · scoop · chatter
Quality of being permitted
- inadmissibleNot allowed as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- out-of-courtResolved privately, avoiding trial
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
witness · cross-examination · deposition · affidavit · declaration · corroboration · circumstantial · credibility
Without supporting evidence
- uncorroboratedNot confirmed by evidence
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
- anecdotalBased on casual observation
unfounded · baseless · unproven · questionable · dubious · unsupported · unreliable · alleged
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- whisperSpeech without full voice
grapevine · word-of-mouth · buzz · innuendo · backbiting · slander · dirt · scoop · chatter · talk
admissibility
Quality of being permitted
- inadmissibleNot allowed as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- out-of-courtResolved privately, avoiding trial
testimony · witness · cross-examination · deposition · affidavit · declaration · corroboration · circumstantial · credibility · reliability
unsubstantiated
Without supporting evidence
- uncorroboratedNot confirmed by evidence
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
anecdotal · unfounded · baseless · unproven · questionable · dubious · unsupported · unreliable · alleged · reported
- trial tacticsobjection, cross-examination, opening statement, closing argument, jury selection
- ways to communicatechat, announcement, gossip, broadcast, small talk
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- courtroom expressionsobjection, sustained, overruled, all rise, guilty
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
hearsayeyewitness testimony
Evidence from direct observers
direct observation · firsthand account · personal experience · direct evidence · eyewitness account
hearsayfact
Verifiable piece of information
proof · truth · reality · hard evidence · confirmation
hearsayadmissible evidence
Proof meeting legal standards
sworn testimony · deposition · affidavit · documentary evidence · physical evidence
- hearsay evidenceUnverified reported statements