Glossary · Evidence
Hearsay
hearsay-ed0853935a29dfcd-2026-07-28
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-07-28
- Topic
- Evidence
An out-of-court statement offered in evidence to prove the truth of what it asserts, which is generally inadmissible because the person who made it cannot be cross-examined. The rule is riddled with exceptions, including business records, excited utterances, and statements by an opposing party. A statement offered for another purpose, such as showing notice or state of mind, is not hearsay at all.
Definition
An out-of-court statement offered in evidence to prove the truth of what it asserts, which is generally inadmissible because the person who made it cannot be cross-examined. The rule is riddled with exceptions, including business records, excited utterances, and statements by an opposing party. A statement offered for another purpose, such as showing notice or state of mind, is not hearsay at all.
Hearsay. An out-of-court statement offered in evidence to prove the truth of what it asserts, which is generally inadmissible because the person who made it cannot be cross-examined. The rule is riddled with exceptions, including business records, excited utterances, and statements by an opposing party. A statement offered for another purpose, such as showing notice or state of mind, is not hearsay at all. Example: The witness could not testify that a bystander told her the truck ran the light, because the statement was hearsay.