libel

American  

[lahy-buhl] / ˈlaɪ bəl /

noun

1. Law.

   1. defamation by written, printed, or broadcast words or pictures.

      Intentionally or knowingly posting content that constitutes libel is prohibited.

   2. the act or crime of publishing or broadcasting a defamatory statement.

      The author was convicted of libel and sentenced to a yearlong jail term.

   3. a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.

2. anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.

   He blames me for his getting kicked out of school, so he spread this libel against me in revenge.

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verb (used with object)

libeled, libeling, libelled, libelling

1. to publish or broadcast a libel against.

   The journalist received a suspended three-year prison sentence for allegedly libeling the president in an online article.

2. to misrepresent damagingly.

   So it's just fine to smear and libel the writer, but it's not okay to call someone out for doing so?

3. to institute suit against by a libel, as in an admiralty court.

libel British  

/ ˈlaɪbəl /

noun

1. law

   1. the publication of defamatory matter in permanent form, as by a written or printed statement, picture, etc

   2. the act of publishing such matter

2. any defamatory or unflattering representation or statement

3. ecclesiastical law a claimant's written statement of claim

4. Scots law the formal statement of a charge

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verb

1. law to make or publish a defamatory statement or representation about (a person)

2. to misrepresent injuriously

3. ecclesiastical law to bring an action against (a person) in the ecclesiastical courts

libel Cultural  

1. A written, printed, or pictorial statement that unjustly defames someone publicly. Prosecution of libel as a punishable offense puts some measure of restriction on freedom of the press under the First Amendment (see also First Amendment).

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Usage

What's the difference between libel and slander? Libel and slander are both forms of defamation—the act of attacking someone’s character or reputation, especially by making false statements about them. The difference is that such statements are considered slander when they are simply spoken in the presence of other people, whereas they are considered libel when they are published or broadcast in some way, such as being written in an article, spoken on TV, or printed on a sign that’s posted in a public place. Both words can also be used as verbs meaning to defame someone in such a way. In a legal context, libel and slander can both be considered crimes. For an action to be considered libel or slander, it must be proven to have done some damage to a person’s reputation. Slander is often much harder to prove because it involves simply saying something, whereas libel often involves a permanent record of the statement. You can remember the difference by thinking about the first letter of each word: slander typically involves speaking, while libel typically involves a lasting document of what was said. Here’s an example of libel and slander used correctly in a sentence. Example: The court determined that the defendant’s statements constituted slander, but did not rise to the level of libel since they were not published or broadcast. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between libel and slander.

Commonly Confused

See slander.

Other Word Forms

• interlibel verb (used with object)
• libeller noun
• libellous adjective
• unlibeled adjective
• unlibelled adjective

Etymology

Origin of libel

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “little book, formal document, official statement,” from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book; for formation, castellum

Explanation

Libel is the act of publishing a statement about someone that is not true and that gives a bad impression about the person. Libel is usually contrasted with slander, which refers to a spoken statement that is not true. Both libel and slander are used in legal contexts. In Middle English, libel referred to a written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, from liber "book."

Example Sentences

The case type is described as "Media and Communication -- Part 7 Claim -- Defamation -- libel and slander".

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Upon its publication in 1857, two years after the death of the author of “Jane Eyre,” Gaskell received angry letters, threats of libel lawsuits and outraged responses from Brontë’s father and her widower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

The defendants also include a woman already the subject of a libel complaint filed by Brigitte Macron in 2022: Delphine J., 51, a self-proclaimed spiritual medium who goes by the pseudonym Amandine Roy.

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

Laurence Fox's libel claim after he was called a racist on social media should be reconsidered at a retrial, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025

Some said it was a scar left behind by the Damascus Affair, the blood libel that had driven his Harari ancestors from the city for good.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• defamation