hear ‧ say /ˈhɪəseɪ $ ˈhɪr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
something that you have heard about from other people but do not know to be definitely true or correct ⇨ rumour :
I wouldn’t take any notice of it – it’s just hearsay.
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THESAURUS
▪ rumour British English , rumor American English noun [uncountable and countable] information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true:
The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.
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The truth finally came out after months of rumour.
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I've heard rumours about a ghost in the building.
▪ speculation noun [uncountable] a situation in which a lot of people are talking about something that is happening, especially something that is happening in politics or public life, and trying to guess what the truth is:
There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium’s largest banks.
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The report fuelled speculation (=caused more speculation) that he was about to resign.
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His future as a player has been the subject of intense speculation.
▪ gossip noun [uncountable] things that people say about what they think has happened in other people's private lives, which is usually not true :
She tells me all the latest gossip from the office.
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The magazine was full of gossip about celebrities.
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You shouldn't believe every piece of gossip you hear.
▪ talk noun [uncountable] something that people talk about a lot but which is not official:
The government has dismissed talk of a military strike on the country.
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There's been a lot of talk of him resigning.
▪ hearsay noun [uncountable] something that you have heard from someone else, but cannot prove whether it is true or untrue – often used in legal contexts:
All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports.
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hearsay evidence