calumny

American  

[kal-uhm-nee] / ˈkæl əm ni /

noun

• calumnies
  plural

1. a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something.

   The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.

2. the act of uttering calumnies; slander; defamation.

   Synonyms:

   derogation, vilification

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calumny British  

/ ˈkæləmnɪ /

noun

1. the malicious utterance of false charges or misrepresentation; slander; defamation

2. such a false charge or misrepresentation

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Commonly Confused

See slander.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• calumnies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of calumny

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin calumnia, equivalent to calumn-, perhaps originally a participle of calvī “to deceive” + -ia -y ³ )

Explanation

Use the noun calumny to characterize verbal attacks that are meant to destroy reputations or friendships. You've probably seen political ads during election time that rely on calumny to move voters. Calumny comes from the Latin word calvi, meaning "to trick, deceive," which is why it can also describe falsely accusing someone or quoting them out of context with the intent to do them harm. Some political candidates use this tactic against opponents in the hope that voters will be tricked into thinking that the accusations are true.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

calumny calumnies

Months later, the Vatican accuses Vigano of calumny.

From Reuters ● Mar. 10, 2023

And Jones spreads his disgusting calumny to attract an audience so that he can make a fortune by hooking them on the snake oil supplements he sells on his show.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2022

KASSEL, Germany — It began with a calumny, it ends with a crack-up.

From New York Times ● Sep. 23, 2022

Why would Prager presume calumny and conspiracy in the agency’s motives?

From Slate ● Nov. 8, 2021

Jefferson was guilty of “the blackest calumny and foulest falsehoods” during that bitter campaign.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

They tore into him with false claims and calumnies and writs against him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

From the viewpoint of the sermonizers, the malicious calumnies of Goebbels that had led to the chimneys were being trafficked anew, inconceivably by an American Jew.

From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2021

In a video shot in St. Peter's Square, Archbishop Anthony Apuron addressed himself to his flock in the U.S. territory, insisting he remained their archbishop and was a "victim of these horrible calumnies."

From US News ● Jun. 7, 2016

A campaign of calumnies and disinformation aimed at bringing down our headmistress?

From Slate ● May 8, 2013

He looked about imploringly for help in defending his country’s future against the obnoxious calumnies of this sly and sinful assailant.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller