What term refers to out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, generally inadmissible without an exception?

• A. Best Evidence Rule
• B. Authentication
• C. Sanctions
• D. Hearsay

Answer: (D)

Out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of what they assert are hearsay. The key idea is that the statement comes from someone other than the witness in court, and it’s being used to establish that the asserted fact is true. Because the speaker isn’t in court to be cross-examined and tested, hearsay is generally inadmissible unless a specific exception or exemption applies, which is why it’s a central topic in evaluating evidence. The other terms don’t capture this scenario: the Best Evidence Rule is about proving the content of writings by using the original document, Authentication is about showing a piece of evidence is what it claims to be, and Sanctions are penalties for rules violations. So the term that fits this description is hearsay.