Meaning 1neutral · 90%
indirect knowledge based on what others have said rather than on one's own observation or direct evidence
Natural examples
Der Zeuge kannte den Vorfall lediglich vom Hörensagen.
Ich kenne die Stadt bisher nur vom Hörensagen.
Für die Analyse reichen Angaben vom Hörensagen nicht aus.
Usage note
Vom Hörensagen emphasizes lack of direct experience or verification. In legal English, hearsay has technical rules; the German everyday expression need not map exactly onto those rules.
Useful combinations
— to know something only by hearsay