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