Hearsay
noun
Information that you have heard but don't know for sure to be true.
I heard a piece of hearsay about our new boss, but I'm waiting to meet him before I make my own judgment.
Often appears as...
- piece of hearsay
- hearsay evidence
noun
Unverified information heard or received from another; not part of one's direct knowledge.
The judge ruled out claiming the statement as hearsay since it was not first-hand evidence.
Often appears as...
- hearsay testimony
- hearsay law
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
Information that you have heard but don't know for sure to be true.
I heard a piece of hearsay about our new boss, but I'm waiting to meet him before I make my own judgment.
Often appears as...
- piece of hearsay
- hearsay evidence
noun
Unverified information heard or received from another; not part of one's direct knowledge.
The judge ruled out claiming the statement as hearsay since it was not first-hand evidence.
Often appears as...
- hearsay testimony
- hearsay law
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Verify First
Check the truth before trusting hearsay, as it may be false or misleading.
Don't believe the hearsay about the haunted house until you've seen it yourself.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Caution
Sharing hearsay can harm reputations; think carefully about repeating unconfirmed info.
She spread hearsay about the celebrity, and it turned out to be a baseless rumor.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Evidence
In casual conversation, hearsay is not strong proof, so use it cautiously in discussions.
His argument was weak because it was based on hearsay rather than facts.
Pro Tip 1/3Verify First
Check the truth before trusting hearsay, as it may be false or misleading.
Don't believe the hearsay about the haunted house until you've seen it yourself.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Caution
Sharing hearsay can harm reputations; think carefully about repeating unconfirmed info.
She spread hearsay about the celebrity, and it turned out to be a baseless rumor.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Evidence
In casual conversation, hearsay is not strong proof, so use it cautiously in discussions.
His argument was weak because it was based on hearsay rather than facts.
Pro Tip 1/3Verify First
Check the truth before trusting hearsay, as it may be false or misleading.
Don't believe the hearsay about the haunted house until you've seen it yourself.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Caution
Sharing hearsay can harm reputations; think carefully about repeating unconfirmed info.
She spread hearsay about the celebrity, and it turned out to be a baseless rumor.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Evidence
In casual conversation, hearsay is not strong proof, so use it cautiously in discussions.
His argument was weak because it was based on hearsay rather than facts.
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Video examples
Bullying must end now PIPE...
it's human nature specifically I'm talking about rumors and how damaging that can be to people and how we should never let our first impression of anyone be based off of rumor or hearsay and the first month of my freshman year of high school an awful rumor about me
Video examples
James Surowiecki: The...
However, the report focused on what had already occurred and offered no information on what to expect now. In general, everything was merely hearsay and rumor, and not a single person I spoke to for over 36 hours knew anything with any certainty.
Video examples
The Triumph and Tragedy...
becomes hearsay and hearsay becomes influenced by politics and so you lose that sense of original voice you lose you lose the ability for the person to to speak on their own behalf and so i think the most important thing
Video examples
Why is Herodotus called...
opsis, or eyewitness accounts, akoe, or hearsay, and ta legomena, or tradition. He then used gnome, or reason, to reach conclusions about what actually happened.
Video examples
Bullying must end now PIPE...
it's human nature specifically I'm talking about rumors and how damaging that can be to people and how we should never let our first impression of anyone be based off of rumor or hearsay and the first month of my freshman year of high school an awful rumor about me
Video examples
James Surowiecki: The...
However, the report focused on what had already occurred and offered no information on what to expect now. In general, everything was merely hearsay and rumor, and not a single person I spoke to for over 36 hours knew anything with any certainty.
Video examples
The Triumph and Tragedy...
becomes hearsay and hearsay becomes influenced by politics and so you lose that sense of original voice you lose you lose the ability for the person to to speak on their own behalf and so i think the most important thing
Video examples
Why is Herodotus called...
opsis, or eyewitness accounts, akoe, or hearsay, and ta legomena, or tradition. He then used gnome, or reason, to reach conclusions about what actually happened.
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
Nick Saban
American Coach
One of these days when I'm finished coaching at Alabama, I'll write an authorized book because there's only one expert on my life, and guess who that is... me. And there won't be any misinformation. There won't be any false statements. There won't be any hearsay. There won't be any expert analysis from anybody else. It will be the real deal.
Quote examples
Sean Evans
American Entertainer
Proof of the 'hysterical strength' phenomenon is still hearsay, mostly because it's impossible to recreate those conditions in a lab. That said, try turning a doorknob when the bass drops on 'Skyfall' without ripping that door clean off of its hinges.
Quote examples
Rick Barry
American Athlete
People who don't know me have opinions about me. That's the part that's very hurtful. Because how do you form an opinion about somebody if you've never met them or spent any time with them? So it's all based upon hearsay or things that they've read.
Quote examples
Billy Crudup
American Actor
I have never indulged our society's misguided notion that my personal life is relevant to my work, so any reporting surrounding that is necessarily hearsay, speculation or fantasy.
Quote examples
Italo Calvino
Italian Journalist
Classics are books which, the more we think we know them through hearsay, the more original, unexpected, and innovative we find them when we actually read them.
Quote examples
Hosea Ballou
American Clergyman
Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken within hearsay of little children tends toward the formation of character.
Quote examples
Diane English
American Writer
I think people have a responsibility, if they write a letter, to make sure that they saw it themselves and it's not hearsay.
Quote examples
Hubert H. Humphrey
American Politician
The difference between hearsay and prophecy is often one of sequence. Hearsay often turns out to have been prophecy.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
Trash talk is dangerous, especially when it comes from hearsay.
Quote examples
Matt Drudge
American Journalist
All truths begin as hearsay, as far as I'm concerned.
Quote examples
Nick Saban
American Coach
One of these days when I'm finished coaching at Alabama, I'll write an authorized book because there's only one expert on my life, and guess who that is... me. And there won't be any misinformation. There won't be any false statements. There won't be any hearsay. There won't be any expert analysis from anybody else. It will be the real deal.
Quote examples
Sean Evans
American Entertainer
Proof of the 'hysterical strength' phenomenon is still hearsay, mostly because it's impossible to recreate those conditions in a lab. That said, try turning a doorknob when the bass drops on 'Skyfall' without ripping that door clean off of its hinges.
Quote examples
Rick Barry
American Athlete
People who don't know me have opinions about me. That's the part that's very hurtful. Because how do you form an opinion about somebody if you've never met them or spent any time with them? So it's all based upon hearsay or things that they've read.
Quote examples
Billy Crudup
American Actor
I have never indulged our society's misguided notion that my personal life is relevant to my work, so any reporting surrounding that is necessarily hearsay, speculation or fantasy.
Quote examples
Italo Calvino
Italian Journalist
Classics are books which, the more we think we know them through hearsay, the more original, unexpected, and innovative we find them when we actually read them.
Quote examples
Hosea Ballou
American Clergyman
Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken within hearsay of little children tends toward the formation of character.
Quote examples
Diane English
American Writer
I think people have a responsibility, if they write a letter, to make sure that they saw it themselves and it's not hearsay.
Quote examples
Hubert H. Humphrey
American Politician
The difference between hearsay and prophecy is often one of sequence. Hearsay often turns out to have been prophecy.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
Trash talk is dangerous, especially when it comes from hearsay.
Quote examples
Matt Drudge
American Journalist
All truths begin as hearsay, as far as I'm concerned.
Example 1 of 10
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