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libel
[ lahy-buhl ]
noun
- Law.
- defamation by written, printed, or broadcast words or pictures: Compare slander ( def 3 ).
Intentionally or knowingly posting content that constitutes libel is prohibited.
- the act or crime of publishing or broadcasting a defamatory statement:
The author was convicted of libel and sentenced to a yearlong jail term.
- a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.
- anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents:
He blames me for his getting kicked out of school, so he spread this libel against me in revenge.
verb (used with object)
- to publish or broadcast a libel against:
The journalist received a suspended three-year prison sentence for allegedly libeling the president in an online article.
- to misrepresent damagingly:
So it's just fine to smear and libel the writer, but it's not okay to call someone out for doing so?
- to institute suit against by a libel, as in an admiralty court.
libel
/ ˈlaɪbəl /
noun
- law
- the publication of defamatory matter in permanent form, as by a written or printed statement, picture, etc
- the act of publishing such matter
- any defamatory or unflattering representation or statement
- ecclesiastical law a claimant's written statement of claim
- Scots law the formal statement of a charge
verb
- law to make or publish a defamatory statement or representation about (a person)
- to misrepresent injuriously
- ecclesiastical law to bring an action against (a person) in the ecclesiastical courts
libel
- A written, printed, or pictorial statement that unjustly defames someone publicly. Prosecution of libel as a punishable offense puts some measure of restriction on freedom of the press under the First Amendment (see also First Amendment ).
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Confusables Note
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Derived Forms
- ˈlibeller, noun
- ˈlibellous, adjective
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Other Words From
- in·ter·li·bel verb (used with object) interlibeled interlibeling or (especially British) interlibelled interlibelling
- un·li·beled adjective
- un·li·belled adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of libel1
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Example Sentences
The McCann family is battling Amaral for damages in an ongoing libel case in Portugal.
A libel suit reverses the roles of plaintiff and defendant; the former must defend itself against the latter's charges.
Yitzhar spokesman says the settlement 'has won a number of libel suits against media groups and the Israel Police.'
According to Dershowitz, Corey called Harvard Law School and threatened to sue to the school for libel for his comments.
The bill aims to protect the IDF from libel by Israel detractors.
As the actions of slander and libel have been described, only two others require notice, mandamus and quo warranto.
If the editor forgets himself, as in the case cited, suit for libel is sure to be brought and often proves a serious thing.
Nor is it liable for libel in transmitting a telegram stating that a person had been bought up.
If A writes a libel, and B prints it and C publishes it, the person wronged may sue all jointly, or either one of them separately.
Another bill carried this session made some alterations in the law relating to defamation and libel.
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