What is hearsay?

Hearsay refers to information that one person provides about what another person has said, rather than information that is based on the personal knowledge of the speaker. In legal contexts, hearsay is typically considered inadmissible as evidence in court because it cannot be verified or substantiated through direct observation or firsthand experience. This definition highlights the issue of reliability in legal testimony; hearsay does not allow the opportunity for cross-examination of the original source of the statement, which is crucial in the judicial process.

The reason this answer is the correct choice lies in its emphasis on the secondhand nature of the information, emphasizing that it lacks direct substantiation. In many legal systems, the rules of evidence are designed to ensure that only reliable and verifiable information is presented in court to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.