I hear that; it means that

ということだ reports information you received, similar to the hearsay そうだ, or restates what something means. Attach it to a plain-form clause. With a summarizing nuance it explains the upshot: in other words, this is what it means.

Examples

• 社長しゃちょうは明日あす来こないということです。

  Shachou wa ashita konai to iu koto desu.

  I'm told the president won't come tomorrow.

• 返事へんじがないのは、興味きょうみがないということだ。

  Henji ga nai no wa, kyoumi ga nai to iu koto da.

  No reply means they're not interested.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 社長 company president
• 明日 tomorrow
• 来る to come
• 返事 reply, answer
• 興味 interest

Related patterns · Nominalizers and explanation

• 〜わけだ that's why; no wonder; it follows that
• 〜はずだ should be; is supposed to be (expectation)
• 〜べきだ should; ought to (strong advice)