Libel
noun / verb /ˈlaɪ.bəl/ — A published false statement that damages someone's reputation
Definition
A written or published false statement that damages someone's reputation. Libel is defamation in permanent, published form — the written slander. Because it is recorded, libel is often treated more seriously than slander in legal systems.
Beyond the definition
Libel is harm with a paper trail — the damage is permanent because the record is permanent. In the digital age, libel and the line between criticism, opinion, and defamation has become simultaneously more urgent and more contested.
Origin & history
Latin: libellus (little book, pamphlet). Originally a small written document — the physical form of the written statement that causes damage. The size diminished while the harm grew.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The article was found to be libellous — the claims were false and unprovable.
Libel law varies dramatically between jurisdictions, especially between the US and UK.
Publishing something false about a person, even online, can constitute libel.
Synonyms
written defamation, published false statement
Antonyms
truth, accurate reporting, factual claim
Related words
Libel vs slander
Libel is defamatory statement in written or permanent form. Slander is a defamatory statement that is spoken.
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
Studying Heavy Handwritten Archive
An adult stands in a grand, quiet archive, holding a heavy, ancient book open, its pages filled with records.
The handwritten record is a permanent form of documentation. Libel is defamation in this recorded form; because it is published and permanent, it is often treated with greater seriousness than slander in legal contexts.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration