defamation

noun

def·​a·​ma·​tion ˌde-fə-ˈmā-shən 

law

: the act of communicating false statements about a person that injure the reputation of that person : the act of defaming another

defamation of character

a defamation lawsuit

also : a communication that defames

repeated the defamation

defamatory

di-ˈfa-mə-tȯr-ē 

dē-

adjective

Did you know?

Harming someone's reputation in speech with falsehoods is known as slander, and doing the same thing in writing is known as libel (which sometimes includes speech as well). Any ordinary citizen who can claim to have suffered harm as a result of such defamation may sue. So why aren't politicians suing all the time? Because an exception is made for "public persons" (a category that includes most other celebrities as well), who must also prove that any such statement was made with "reckless disregard for the truth". And although, even by that standard, public persons are defamed all the time, most of them have decided that it's better to just grin and bear it.

Synonyms of defamation

• libel
• defaming
• libeling

Examples of defamation in a Sentence

The article was full of lies and defamations.

accused the newspaper columnist of defamation of character

Recent Examples on the Web

The woman Morris was convicted of abusing, Cindy Clemishire, has filed a $1 million defamation suit against Morris, the church, former and current elders, and a former church employee in Dallas County. — Giles Hudson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Back then, the ADA appeared genuinely committed to defending itself and the editorial integrity of another of its journals, Diabetes, which had been named in a defamation suit two years earlier by a researcher in São Paulo named Mario Saad. — Ivan Oransky, STAT, 31 July 2026

Miller denied Grisham's allegations and sued her for defamation while running for Congress in 2023. — Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 31 July 2026

Maddox, who was released, is seeking $250,000 for assault, false arrest, negligence, defamation, and false imprisonment. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see defame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defamation

• anti-defamation

Rhymes for defamation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Legal Definition

defamation

noun

de·​fa·​ma·​tion ˌde-fə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: communication to third parties of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person see also libel, slander, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan compare disparagement, false light, slander of title

2

: a defamatory communication

every repetition of the defamation is a publication

—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton