1
: rumor
like the hearsays bandied about by the medievalists—
S. N. Behrman
S. N. Behrman2
law
: hearsay evidence
Synonyms
Examples of hearsay in a Sentence
You can't judge them solely on the basis of hearsay.
They're supposedly getting married soon, but that's just hearsay.
Recent Examples on the Web
With both police and the prosecution largely staying silent until the trial is slated to begin in mid-September, the facts of the case are decidedly obfuscated, riddled with rumors and hearsay.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024
Arwen does not know him except through hearsay, because a year before Arwen met his father, Daniel quit the shack and moved to the West Coast to become a road ecologist.
—Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024
Among the changes: complaints that are filed anonymously or that are based on hearsay will not be investigated.
—Ana Ceballos, Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2024
As a primer on his musical achievement, the show relies a lot on hearsay.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for hearsay 
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024
Arwen does not know him except through hearsay, because a year before Arwen met his father, Daniel quit the shack and moved to the West Coast to become a road ecologist.
—Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024
Among the changes: complaints that are filed anonymously or that are based on hearsay will not be investigated.
—Ana Ceballos, Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2024
As a primer on his musical achievement, the show relies a lot on hearsay.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for hearsay
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hearsay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hearsay
Cite this Entry
“Hearsay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearsay. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hearsay
noun
hear·say
ˈhi(ə)r-ˌsā 
1
: something heard from another : rumor
2
Legal Definition
hearsay
noun
hear·say
ˈhir-ˌsā
: a statement made out of court and not under oath which is offered as proof that what is stated is true
called also hearsay evidence
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