defame

[dih-feym]

verb (used with object)

defamed, defaming 

1. to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate.

   The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.

   Synonyms: backbite, denigrate, revile, derogate, vilify, discredit, disparage, malign

2. Archaic.,  to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.

3. Archaic.,  to accuse.

defame

/ dɪˈfeɪm /

verb

1. to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel

2. archaic,  to indict or accuse

Other Word Forms

• defamer noun
• defamingly adverb
• undefamed adjective
• undefaming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defamen, from Anglo-French defamer or directly from Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, variant of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre ( dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus “infamous”) “to spread the news of, slander,” equivalent to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verbal derivative of fāma “news, rumor, slander” ( fame ); replacing Middle English diffamen, from Anglo-French, Old French diffamer or directly from Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

C14: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma _fame

Example Sentences

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who said she turned down an invitation to perform, shared excerpts from a contract that allegedly included bans on any material that could "degrade or defame" the Saudi royal family or religion.

From BBC

"The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!"

From BBC

On CNN, Khanna of California called on Vance to “retract what he said, defaming the Wall Street Journal reporter,” noting the vice president “said it was fake. And now we have the letter.”

From Salon

“No Californian should be falsely arrested, defamed, or retaliated against because of who they are or what they stand for.”

From Los Angeles Times

Technically the privy council is not covered by the lese majeste law, which states that it is an offence to defame only the king, queen, heir to the throne or anyone acting as regent.

From BBC

Related Words

• besmirch 
• denigrate 
• discredit 
• disgrace 
• disparage 
• malign 
• scandalize 
• smear 
• vilify