defamation

American  

[def-uh-mey-shuhn] / ˌdɛf əˈmeɪ ʃən /

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.

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defamation British  

/ 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

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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 ( -ion )

Example Sentences

The 32-year-old shot to prominence tackling some of the country's most sensitive topics while defending ethnic minorities, journalists facing defamation charges and clients branded blasphemers.

From Barron's

Kramnik, who called the federation’s investigation “insulting and unfair,” in turn filed a defamation lawsuit against the organization the following month.

From Los Angeles Times

In voice notes sent afterwards, she said our work was "not professional" and warned of potential defamation proceedings.

From BBC

He denied those claims and sued his accuser for defamation.

From Los Angeles Times

She alleged the attention brought to her businesses online by Ms O'Connor's Facebook group had amounted to "horrific social media harassment" and defamation.

From BBC

Related Words

• denigration
• disparagement