What is the definition of hearsay in legal terms?

The definition of hearsay in legal terms refers to a statement made by someone other than the person who is testifying. This legal concept is crucial because hearsay is generally inadmissible in court due to its unreliability; it relies on the credibility of the original speaker rather than the witness who is present in court. The principle behind this rule is that a witness cannot be cross-examined about the truthfulness of statements made by another person, which may lead to unfairness in the trial process.

In contrast, a direct quote from a witness during a trial is not considered hearsay, as it pertains directly to the witness's own observations or experiences. Official documents submitted as evidence are typically subjected to different standards and are admissible based on their authenticity and relevance. A conversation between two witnesses outside of court may share information not presented during the trial, which could potentially fall under hearsay, but it is not a stand-alone definition of hearsay itself.