Information a witness obtained secondhand from another source which they then try to testify to at trial. Unless it falls under an exception, hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
hearsay (noun)1.
- rumor
2.
- hearsay evidence
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
hearsay (noun)information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy
SYNONYMS:
buzz, dish, gossip, hearsay, noise, report, scuttlebutt, talk, tattle, wordRELATED WORDS:
tale, whisper, whispering; hint, intimation, rumbling; disinformation, propaganda; urban legend ( urban myth); dirt, scandal