defamation

[ def-uh-mey-shuh n ]

/ ˌdɛf əˈmeɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defamation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Nearby words

Origin of defamation

1275–1325; Middle English; replacing (by analogy with defame) Middle English diffamacioun < Medieval Latin diffāmātiōn- (stem of diffāmātiō), equivalent to Latin diffāmāt(us) (past participle of diffāmāre; see defame) + -iōn- -ion

Can be confuseddefamation liable libel slander (see usage note at liable)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defamation

Among these are obscenity, defamation, fighting words, express incitement to unlawful conduct, and threats.
Does Free Speech Cover Murder Fantasies? The Supreme Court’s Definition of a ‘Threat’|Geoffrey R. Stone|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She later sued Eminem for defamation over the violent song and the case was settled out of court.
Eminem’s Rape Fantasy with Iggy Azalea: The Tired, Juvenile Misogyny Needs to Stop|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the suits against Kelley charged her with defamation for calling Miller an “intimacy stalker” in her LiveJournal page.
The Mystery Woman Who Tried to Outdo Dillinger|Michael Daly|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One researcher, in defense of the animals, even sued Disney for defamation (PDF) of character.
‘The Lion King’ Turns 20: Every Crazy, Weird Fact About the Disney Classic|Kevin Fallon|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Mori sued the publisher of the magazine for defamation but dropped the lawsuit in November of 2011.
The Yakuza Olympics|Jake Adelstein|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Defamation is the greatest curse in the United States, and its effects upon society I shall presently point out.
Diary in America, Series Two|Frederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)
Do you know that Master Raymond can have his action against you for very heavy damages, for slander and defamation?
Dulcibel|Henry Peterson
With the first tidings of the battle fought at Minden the defamation of this officer arrived.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.|Tobias Smollett
Mr. Gilbert could not, and shortly Mr. Perkins brought two complaints of defamation of character.
Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony|George Francis Dow
They began a campaign of defamation against Doctor Grenfell and his whole field of work.
The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador|Dillon Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for defamation

defamation

/ (ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

law the injuring of a person's good name or reputationCompare libel, slander

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

Word Origin and History for defamation

defamation

c.1300, from Old French diffamacion, Medieval Latin deffamation, from Latin diffamationem (nominative diffamatio), noun of action from past participle stem of diffamare (see defame).

defamation

noun

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Origin of defamation

Examples from the Web for defamation

defamation

noun

defamation