slander
Americannoun
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The accusations are based on hearsay, rumor, or intentional slander, and remain undocumented and unproved.
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a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.
The writer is spewing a despicable slander against an 87-year-old man, and without a shred of proof.
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Law. defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc..
The plaintiff amended his complaint to add a count of slander arising from the statements made at the board meetings.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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law
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defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc
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a slanderous statement, etc
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any false or defamatory words spoken about a person; calumny
verb
Usage
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.
Commonly Confused
Defamation (and the less common calumny ) are general terms for untrue statements that attack or injure someone’s reputation. Slander and libel, while they are both used generally, are legally more specific: slander is spoken, while libel is written, broadcast, or published. If a statement is true, or is an opinion not stated as a fact, it cannot be considered defamation, and therefore cannot be prosecuted as slander or libel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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slanderernoun
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slanderousnessnoun
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outslanderverb (used with object)
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reslanderverb (used with object)
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slanderousadjective
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unslanderedadjective
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slanderinglyadverb
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slanderouslyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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slandersimple
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slanderssimple
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have slanderedperfect
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has slanderedperfect
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am slanderingprogressive
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are slanderingprogressive
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is slanderingprogressive
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have been slanderingperfect progressive
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has been slanderingperfect progressive
Past
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slanderedsimple
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had slanderedperfect
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was slanderingprogressive
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were slanderingprogressive
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had been slanderingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of slander
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun s(c)laundre, from Anglo-French esclaundre, Old French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum “cause of offense, snare” ( see scandal); Middle English verb s(c)laundren “to cause to lapse morally, bring to disgrace, discredit, defame,” from Anglo-French esclaund(e)rer, from Old French esc(l)andrer, esc(l)andir, derivative of esclandre
Explanation
If your classmate spreads a false rumor that you cheated on the math test, that's slander. Slander is the act of saying an untrue, negative statement about someone. In law, the word slander is contrasted with libel, which is the act of making a false written statement about someone. The noun slander is from Old French esclandre, escandle, or "scandal," from Late Latin scandalum "stumbling block, offense."
Vocabulary lists containing slander
All About That Baseless: Bad-Faith Accusations
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act IV
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The case type is described as "Media and Communication -- Part 7 Claim -- Defamation -- libel and slander".
From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026
He has long said the allegations against him are part of a campaign of slander.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
“Nobody has endured what he has over the past few years. People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him. But here he is. I’m so very proud.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026
Mr Berry and Mr Cash have previously denied the charges, and Beijing has called the allegations "malicious slander".
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2025
“Do not buy this book! Ladies of Jackson, do not support this slander with your husbands’ hard-earned—” “Huh?”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Oana Eftimie dismisses the charges against Georgescu, and some of his backers, as reheated slanders:
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2025
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the individuals on trial are not Chinese law enforcement and called the charges "nothing but rumors and slanders."
From Reuters ● May 31, 2023
“TVN slanders our authorities. It slanders John Paul and it slanders all of our values,” Eleonora Sochal, 76, said.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 2, 2023
“His Twitter feed alone — with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders — is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused,’’ Mr. Galli wrote.
From New York Times ● Dec. 20, 2019
“Voyages.”140.Narrative of Chaplain Fletcher, quoted by Burney.141.Various authorities cited by Southey.142.The various slanders thrown on Drake’s name in connection with this occurrence seem to have had no foundation in fact.
From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1 by Whymper, Frederick
But when she realizes Iago has slandered Desdemona she turns into an enraged lioness, roundly exposing and condemning him—and Othello—with righteous fury.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
It slandered jurors in criminal trials for refusing to find people guilty for alleged crimes against the government.
From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2026
Fueling a spat that has shattered ties between the long-allied nations, Gustavo Petro said, "Mr Trump has slandered me and insulted Colombia."
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
News through her attorney, “It saddens me beyond belief that my husband’s character could be slandered in such a way.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025
At Rachel’s burial, Jackson angrily said, “I can and do forgive all my enemies. But those vile wretches who have slandered her must look to God for mercy.”
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Morgan's gratuitous sensationalism ... builds upon a pattern of Morgan's ongoing obsession with slandering Markle.
From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2024
He shot back, “You are slandering me incorrectly.... My views are constantly misrepresented.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2023
The Hong Kong government firmly rejected what it called the slandering remarks in the report.
From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2023
She also accused the prosecutors of lying and slandering her.
From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2022
Meanwhile an “active counterrevolutionary” was convicted of slandering the Red Guards.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
