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View synonyms for defamation

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
“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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Confusables Note

See slander.
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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 )
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Example Sentences

Tripp countersued Musk for defamation, but the federal judge handling the case threw it out, ruling that the technician had failed to show that the CEO had acted with actual malice.

From Fortune

On Twitter, Dell’Anno also said she would be filing a claim against San Diego for defamation on behalf of her client Thursday.

Burkman was quoted as saying the situation is “a joke” and threatening to sue for defamation.

Kolfage launched a defamation lawsuit against half a dozen online opponents.

We Build the Wall and Kolfage are also being sued for defamation by the National Butterfly Center.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement deploring the state GOP for its failure to censure Duke.

Among these are obscenity, defamation, fighting words, express incitement to unlawful conduct, and threats.

She later sued Eminem for defamation over the violent song and the case was settled out of court.

One of the suits against Kelley charged her with defamation for calling Miller an “intimacy stalker” in her LiveJournal page.

One researcher, in defense of the animals, even sued Disney for defamation (PDF) of character.

The issue in an action for defamation is not the character of the plaintiff, but the wrongfulness of the particular statement.

Another bill carried this session made some alterations in the law relating to defamation and libel.

Gossip in all its moods and tenses, from the vague indicative of mere innuendo, to the full subjunctive of open defamation!

I do not know that any law-proceedings were afterwards taken against him for defamation of character.

There he found Anthony Panton continuing his campaign of defamation against him.

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defalcationdefamatory