defamatory

[dih-fam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. containing defamation; injurious to reputation; slanderous or libelous.

   She claimed that the article in the magazine was defamatory.

defamatory

/ -trɪ, dɪˈfæmətərɪ /

adjective

1. injurious to someone's name or reputation

Other Word Forms

• nondefamatory adjective
• undefamatory adjective
• defamatorily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defamatory¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin diffāmātōrius, equivalent to Latin diffāmā(re) ( defame ) + -tōrious -tory ¹

Example Sentences

In a statement posted on X on Friday night, Sultana said that "a number of false and defamatory statements have been published about me concerning the launch of Your Party's membership portal".

From BBC

The ban was not implemented at the time because of strong public opposition, but officials warned that the platform was increasingly being used to spread harmful content including extremist propaganda and defamatory material.

From BBC

His lawyers argued that Beauty and the Bester was defamatory, but the streaming giant defended its plan to release the three-part investigation.

From BBC

The comments cut from the “Face the Nation” appearance were potentially defamatory.

From Los Angeles Times

There are strict rules regarding messaging contained in such banners regarding foul language and defamatory, political and offensive slogans.

From BBC

Related Words

• derogatory 
• disparaging 
• injurious 
• insulting