Definition
Second-hand information that someone heard from someone else, generally inadmissible in court because it's the legal equivalent of playing telephone. If you didn't witness it yourself, the court probably doesn't want to hear about it.
Example Usage
The judge sustained the objection because 'my friend's cousin told me he saw the defendant there' is textbook hearsay.
Origin
From Middle English 'heren' (to hear) and 'seggen' (to say)
Fun Fact
There are more exceptions to the hearsay rule than most law students can memorize, making Evidence class the bane of first-year law school existence.
Source: Common evidence law terminology
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “hearsay” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator