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

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

While the investigation continued, Townsend sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in October 2018, alleging false imprisonment, defamation, racial discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

From Los Angeles Times

Hichilema, who came to office in 2021, has abolished criminal defamation laws against the president, but Zambians still face prosecution under other laws.

From BBC

Lu has filed libel and defamation suits in South Africa, Australia, the U.K. and other countries against some of his critics, including Longwe, the internet-service provider executive in Malawi.

From The Wall Street Journal

And a few weeks ago, Mr. Lowell also folded, settling a defamation case the pair had brought against him, which was dismissed but which the whistleblowers could appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• denigration
• disparagement