defamation
Americannoun
noun
Commonly Confused
See slander.
Etymology
Origin of defamation
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; replacing (by analogy with defame ) Middle English diffamacioun, from Medieval Latin diffāmātiōn- (stem of diffāmātiō ), equivalent to Latin diffāmāt(us) (past participle of diffāmāre; defame ) + -iōn- noun suffix ( see -ion)
Explanation
Defamation is a dirty trick against someone's reputation. If you were so furious at your friend that you spread a rumor that he was still wetting his bed, that would be defamation of your friend. The noun defamation describes something very mean and completely deliberate, essentially a false accusation against someone or an attack on a person's good reputation. The terms libel and slander — written or spoken lies about a person, group, or business — both fall under the category of defamation. Sometimes defamation is even a punishable crime, and in every instance it's unkind and malicious.
Vocabulary lists containing defamation
All About That Baseless: Bad-Faith Accusations
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"The Crucible," Vocabulary from the play
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Just Mercy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Media lawyers say the costs associated with defamation litigation have soared in recent years, as more lawsuits reach the discovery phase.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Instead, it is refusing to repeat the legally actionable version of that claim that a defamation lawyer could put in front of a jury.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
A Sydney court dismissed on Wednesday a defamation case against Australian film star Rebel Wilson by another actor.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The Economist and the New York Times are among other foreign outlets that have been ordered to pay damages in defamation suits.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Perhaps both of them would sue him, Abelman for character defamation and Lew for forgery.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
