Defamation
noun /ˌdɛf.əˈmeɪ.ʃən/ — A false statement that harms someone's reputation.
Definition
The act of making false statements that damage someone's reputation — including both libel (written) and slander (spoken). To be legally actionable, defamation must be a false statement of fact, communicated to a third party, and causing demonstrable harm.
Beyond the definition
Defamation is the legal system's recognition that words can wound as surely as blows — and that the wound to reputation can be harder to heal than the wound to flesh.
Origin & history
From Latin 'defamatio' (taking away of fame); from 'defamare' (to spread harmful report about); from 'de-' (taking away) + 'fama' (reputation).
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The newspaper retraction came too late — the defamation had traveled faster and farther than any correction could follow.
Public figures must prove 'actual malice' to win defamation cases — a higher bar than private individuals face.
Online defamation has created jurisdictional nightmares: one post, visible in every country, each with different laws.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Defamation” when the meaning fits your context: The act of making false statements that damage someone's reputation — including both libel (written) and slander (spoken). To be legally actionable, defamation must be a false statement of fact, communicated to a third party, and causing demonstrable harm.
Synonyms
Antonyms
praise, vindication
Related words
Defamation vs libel
Defamation is the general term for a false statement harming reputation. Libel specifically refers to defamatory statements that are written or published, whereas slander refers to spoken defamation.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Two Adults In Heated Disagreement
Two adults having a heated disagreement stand at a table, with one using angry gestures to express hostility toward the other.
Defamation is the communication of false statements that damage a reputation. The aggressive communication in this disagreement visualizes the hostile sentiment that, if based on false facts and causing harm, constitutes a legal violation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Defamation" mean?
Defamation is noun meaning: A false statement that harms someone's reputation.. The act of making false statements that damage someone's reputation — including both libel (written) and slander (spoken). To be legally actionable, defamation must be a false statement of fact, communicated to a third party, and causing demonstrable harm.
Where does the word "Defamation" come from?
From Latin 'defamatio' (taking away of fame); from 'defamare' (to spread harmful report about); from 'de-' (taking away) + 'fama' (reputation).