Main Entry: ²slander

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense — more at scandal

Date: 14th century

1 : the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation
2 : a false and defamatory oral statement about a person — compare libel

— slan·der·ous \-d(ə-)rəs\ adjective

— slan·der·ous·ly adverb

— slan·der·ous·ness noun