defamatory

[ dih-fam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. containing defamation; injurious to reputation; slanderous or libelous:

   She claimed that the article in the magazine was defamatory.

defamatory

/ -trɪ; dɪˈfæmətərɪ /

adjective

1. injurious to someone's name or reputation

Derived Forms

• deˈfamatorily, adverb

Other Word Forms

• nonde·fama·tory adjective
• unde·fama·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defamatory¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin diffāmātōrius, equivalent to Latin diffāmā(re) ( defame ) + -tōrious -tory ¹

Example Sentences

At the High Court in Belfast on Thursday, the Home Office issued an apology to FP McCann Limited and its directors for publishing "false and defamatory allegations" in a press release in March 2024.

From BBC

He added that the allegations against him were "untrue… and defamatory".

From BBC

Diaw also accuses Brown and the other co-defendants of engaging in “defamatory conduct by spreading false rumors about” his clients and claiming he “is a thief in an effort to sabotage professional relationships.”

From Los Angeles Times

As of March this year, eight people have been apprehended for making such derogatory and defamatory online posts.

From BBC

His defamatory claims against former Biden officials are just par for the course:

From Salon

Related Words

• derogatory
• disparaging
• injurious
• insulting