«مَا لَهُ طُرُقٌ مَحْصُورَةٌ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ اثْنَيْنِ»
A report with a limited number of independent transmission routes greater than two.
In hadith terminology, mashhur here is based on the number of routes. “More than two” begins at three, while “limited” distinguishes this category from tawatur. The term should not be read as though it necessarily means that huge populations transmitted the report.
For example, three independent routes that do not meet the conditions of tawatur may qualify for technical mashhur status. That classification itself says nothing conclusive about the integrity of the chain or the report’s authenticity.