Slander
noun / verb /ˈslɑːn.dər/ — A spoken false statement that damages someone's reputation
Definition
The act of making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation. Slander is defamation in speech; its written equivalent is libel. Both require falsity, damage, and publication — but slander speaks where libel writes.
Beyond the definition
Slander is the word for when words become weapons — when what is said about you becomes something you must defend against. The distinction between slander and opinion is often contested, which is part of its power.
Origin & history
Old French: esclandre (scandal). The spoken version of defamation — legally distinguished from libel in many jurisdictions. The distinction matters because spoken words have always been harder to prove and contain.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She sued for slander after the false rumour cost her the contract.
The line between honest opinion and slander is narrow but consequential.
Slander in the era of voice messages and podcasts has become easier to document.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Slander” when the meaning fits your context: The act of making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation. Slander is defamation in speech; its written equivalent is libel. Both require falsity, damage, and publication — but slander speaks where libel writes.
Synonyms
defamation, false accusation, calumny
Antonyms
truth, compliment, honest report
Related words
Slander vs defamation
Slander is specifically oral or spoken defamation. Defamation is the umbrella term for any false statement that harms a person's reputation.
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
Heated Disagreement at Table
Two adults disagree at a table, one using angry gestures, while the other raises an open hand to pause.
The pointed gestures suggest hostile communication. Slander is the spoken form of defamation; it requires false statements that damage reputation, existing as an ephemeral act that is as damaging as it is difficult to record compared to written libel.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Slander" mean?
Slander is noun / verb meaning: A spoken false statement that damages someone's reputation. The act of making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation. Slander is defamation in speech; its written equivalent is libel. Both require falsity, damage, and publication — but slander speaks where libel writes.
Where does the word "Slander" come from?
Old French: esclandre (scandal). The spoken version of defamation — legally distinguished from libel in many jurisdictions. The distinction matters because spoken words have always been harder to prove and contain.