Main Entry:

cal·um·ny

Pronunciation:

\ˈka-ləm-nē also ˈkal-yəm-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural cal·um·nies

Etymology:

Middle English calumnye, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calomnie, from Latin calumnia, from calvi to deceive; perhaps akin to Old English hōlian to slander, Greek kēlein to beguile

Date:

15th century

1 : a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation 2 : the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another's reputation

— ca·lum·ni·ous \kə-ˈləm-nē-əs\ adjective

— ca·lum·ni·ous·ly adverb