hearsay evidence
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Legal
Definition
Meaning
Testimony or evidence that is not based on the witness's direct knowledge, but rather on what they have heard others say, and is therefore often considered unreliable in formal legal proceedings.
Information or claims that are repeated from person to person and whose original source cannot be verified; second-hand information that is often dubious or not substantiated. Can be used metaphorically outside law to denote unverified reports.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun where 'hearsay' functions as an attributive noun modifying 'evidence'. It is a single, specific legal concept, not a general term for any unreliable information.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal concept and the term itself are identical in both jurisdictions, as a cornerstone of common law evidence rules. No significant differences in the term's form or core meaning.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both, implying inadmissibility and unreliability in formal contexts. In casual use, it suggests gossip or rumour.
Frequency
Almost exclusively used in formal legal, academic, or journalistic contexts discussing law or evidence. Very rare in everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The court/judge excluded/heard/considered/objected to + hearsay evidence.Hearsay evidence + is/is not + adjective (e.g., admissible, reliable, sufficient).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's just hearsay.”
- “To dismiss something as hearsay.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In a business context, 'hearsay evidence' might refer to market rumours or unconfirmed reports about a competitor, which are not considered reliable for strategic decisions.
Academic
In academic writing, especially in law, history, or social sciences, it refers to sources that are not primary and are therefore treated with skepticism.
Everyday
Used informally to label information as unreliable gossip, e.g., 'Don't believe that story; it's just hearsay evidence from the neighbours.'
Technical
A precise term in law denoting an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, generally inadmissible due to the lack of opportunity for cross-examination.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The barrister argued that the witness was merely hearsaying.
- The testimony was hearsayed from a source who was not present.
American English
- The attorney objected, claiming the witness was hearsaying.
- The statement had been hearsayed through several people.
adverb
British English
- The information was reported hearsay.
- He claimed, only hearsay, that the event had occurred.
American English
- She stated it hearsay, without direct knowledge.
- The account was hearsay repeated.
adjective
British English
- The judge issued a ruling on the hearsay nature of the statement.
- They disregarded the hearsay report.
American English
- The ruling addressed the hearsay character of the testimony.
- He provided only hearsay information.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher said not to believe hearsay evidence about the test.
- In court, hearsay evidence is usually not allowed because it is not reliable.
- The journalist refused to publish the story, as it was based solely on hearsay evidence from anonymous sources.
- Despite the prosecutor's objections, the judge admitted the hearsay evidence under a rare exception to the rule.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
You HEAR someone SAY something, and then you repeat it as EVIDENCE. The chain is: hear -> say -> evidence.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/TRUTH IS A SOLID STRUCTURE → Hearsay evidence is a CRACKED or ROTTEN FOUNDATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as *'слуховое доказательство'*; it's not idiomatic in Russian legal terminology.
- The correct Russian legal term is typically 'показания с чужих слов' or more generally 'непроверенные слухи'.
- Do not confuse with 'circumstantial evidence' (косвенные улики).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hearsay evidence' as a countable noun plural (*hearsay evidences*). It is generally uncountable.
- Misspelling as *'hearsay-evidence'* (hyphen is not standard in modern usage).
- Confusing it with 'anecdotal evidence', which is based on personal stories but not necessarily second-hand.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would the term 'hearsay evidence' be LEAST likely to appear in its primary, technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the general rule excludes it, there are numerous exceptions in both UK and US law (e.g., dying declarations, statements against interest, records of regularly conducted activity) where hearsay may be admitted.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically in journalism, business, and everyday speech to criticise information as being unverified rumour or gossip passed from person to person.
The key issue is the inability to cross-examine the original declarant on their perception, memory, narration, and sincerity, which are core components of testimonial reliability.
In practice, they are often used interchangeably. 'Hearsay' is the broader concept or statement itself, while 'hearsay evidence' specifies that this hearsay is being offered as evidence in a formal proceeding. In casual use, 'hearsay' is more common.