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

Exxon later sued Bonta in his individual capacity and environmental groups for defamation, saying that the comments harmed current and future business contracts. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

Her practice has spanned defamation, contracts, commission and profit-participation disputes, publicity and privacy rights, intellectual property, employee mobility and sensitive internal investigations — often in matters with significant public exposure. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026

The other is a decree authorizing prison terms for journalists convicted of criminal defamation. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026

Or when Babcock traveled to California and successfully defended Cuban after his 2007 comments on a Bay Area radio show induced a defamation suit from former Mavericks coach Don Nelson. —Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 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