defamation

[def-uh-mey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny.

   She sued the magazine for defamation of character.

defamation

/ ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. law the injuring of a person's good name or reputation Compare libel slander

2. the act of defaming or state of being defamed

Confusables Note

See slander.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defamation¹

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 ( -ion )

Example Sentences

A federal judge dismissed rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s popular “Not Like Us,” a diss track at the center of a long-running beef between the stars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Attorneys for the “Kardashians” reality stars and businesswomen sued the “One Wish” singer Wednesday for defamation and false light publicity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A spokesperson for the duchess said it was written to counter Epstein's threat to sue for defamation, and that she regretted any association with him.

Read more on BBC

The song carries extra resonance when you learn that Felix - the band's thunderous-voiced baritone - has won permission from a US court to unmask an anonymous social media user in connection with a defamation lawsuit.

Read more on BBC

It's not a good look, even with her spokesperson's explanation that she was trying to "assuage" Epstein after he threatened to sue her for defamation.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• denigration 
• disparagement