slander
Origin of slander
words often confused with slander
OTHER WORDS FROM slander
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH slander
1. calumny, defamation, libel, slander (see confusables note at the current entry)2. defame, libel, slanderWords nearby slander
SLANDER VS. LIBEL
What's the difference between slander and libel?
Slander and libel and 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, slander and libel can both be considered crimes. For an action to be considered slander or libel, 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 slander and libel 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 slander and libel.
Quiz yourself on slander vs. libel!
Should slander or libel be used in the following sentence?
The magazine was sued for _____ after printing false accusations.
How to use slander in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for slander
- defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc
- a slanderous statement, etc