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calumny

[ kal-uhm-nee ]
/ ˈkæl əm ni /
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noun, plural cal·um·nies.
a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something: The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.
the act of uttering calumnies; slander; defamation.

OTHER WORDS FOR calumny

2 vilification, calumniation, derogation.
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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 -y3)

words often confused with calumny

See slander.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH calumny

calumny , defamation, libel, slander (see confusables note at slander)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use calumny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for calumny

calumny
/ (ˈkæləmnɪ) /

noun plural -nies
the malicious utterance of false charges or misrepresentation; slander; defamation
such a false charge or misrepresentation

Word Origin for calumny

C15: from Latin calumnia deception, slander
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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