defame

[dih-feym]

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verb (used with object), de·famed, de·fam·ing.

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.

Archaic. to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.

Archaic. to accuse.

Nearby words

Origin of defame

1275–1325; Middle English defamen (< Anglo-French defamer) < Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, by-form 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 (see fame); replacing Middle English diffamen (< Anglo-French, Old French diffamer) < Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

SYNONYMS FOR defame

1. malign, disparage, discredit, vilify, derogate, revile, denigrate, backbite.

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Related formsde·fam·er, nounde·fam·ing·ly, adverbun·de·famed, adjectiveun·de·fam·ing, adjective

Can be confuseddefame libel slander

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

Examples from the Web for defame

But this is often seen as little more than a way of trying to defame Edward III on the continent.
The Sex Life of King Richard III's Randy Great Great Great Grandfather|Tom Sykes|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Taniguchi allegedly continued to defame her to clients, intimidating them into dropping commercial deals with her.
Japan’s Miss International Takes on Mob-Backed Entertainment Complex|Jake Adelstein|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes she does it to defame them, other times to make it seem as if they shared her ideology.
How Palin Flunks Feminism|Michelle Goldberg|November 26, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We are outcasts from Deity, therefore we defame the place of our exile.
Imaginations and Reveries|(A.E.) George William Russell

This is he, who little regarding my love, doth not only defame me with reproachfull words, but also intendeth to run away.
The Golden Asse|Lucius Apuleius
Do not permit any of those loafers to talk with you, for if you do they will go away to defame you.
Cavanagh: Forest Ranger|Hamlin Garland
No doubt hopes had been entertained that, on finding herself abandoned by her King, she would at last accuse and defame him.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 07|Various
That however, did not trouble him and he did everything that Pombal bade him to do, to defame and destroy the Society.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for defame

defame

verb (tr)

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

archaic to indict or accuse

Derived Formsdefamer, noun

Word Origin for defame

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

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 defame

defame

c.1300, from Old French defamer (13c., Modern French diffamer), from Medieval Latin defamare, from Latin diffamare "to spread abroad by ill report, make a scandal of," from dis- suggestive of ruination + fama "a report, rumor" (see fame (n.)). Related: Defamed; defaming.