libel

noun

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li·bel | \ ˈlī-bəl

Definition of libel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought

b archaic : a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone

2a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression

b(1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt

(2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means

(3) : the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures

(4) : the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel

libel

verb

li·bel | \ ˈlī-bəl

libeled or libelled; libeling or libelling\ ˈlī-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of libel (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to make libelous statements

transitive verb

: to make or publish a libel against (see libel entry 1)

Other Words from libel Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about libel

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Examples of libel in a Sentence

Noun To meet the Supreme Court's definition of libel involving a public figure, a quotation must not only be made up or materially altered. It must also defame the person quoted, and damage his or her reputation or livelihood … — Jane Gross, New York Times, 5 June 1993 It is relevant to note that in 1987 the suit against Ms. Malcolm was dismissed … in a narrow ruling that stated that even if the quotations were "false and mischievous," Ms. Malcolm's alterations did not represent malicious intent and therefore did not constitute libel. — Fred W. Friendly, New York Times Book Review, 25 Feb. 1990 The above is not only a flat lie but a political libel which may possibly damage me. Publish it at your peril … — Bernard Shaw, letter, 16 Sept. 1949 In their tiresome addiction to this use of alleged, the newspapers, though having mainly in mind the danger of libel suits, can urge in further justification the lack of any other single word that exactly expresses their meaning; but the fact that a mud-puddle supplies the shortest route is not a compelling reason for walking through it. — Ambrose Bierce, Write It Right, 1909 He sued the newspaper for libel. The newspaper was found guilty of libel. The newspaper's attorneys argued that the article was not a libel. Verb And in Oklahoma last year, lawyers filed a class-action suit against a group supporting tort reform, saying they had libeled trial lawyers. — Judith Miller, New York Times, 11 June 1996 Government officials, he observed, were public servants who remained accountable to the people and therefore could not be libeled for their performance in office. — Leonard W. Levy, Emergence of a Free Press, 1985 The jury found that the article libeled him. the court decided that the newspaper's reportage of the former mayor, while irresponsible, did not constitute an effort to libel him

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Sued for libel by the mayor’s 80-year-old niece, Profs. — Lawrence Douglas, WSJ, "The Political Battle Over Poland’s Holocaust History," 7 Apr. 2021 The actor was denied an appeal in his U.K. libel case against The Sun publisher, News Group Newspapers, according to Deadline. — Zoe Haylock, Vulture, "Johnny Depp Denied Appeal in ‘Wife Beater’ Libel Case," 25 Mar. 2021 The Victorian wit sues the Marquess of Queensberry for libel, egged on by the marquess’ son, Lord Alfred. — Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week: ‘Lust for Life’; ‘Platoon’ and more," 5 Mar. 2021 The year was 1735, the charge was libel, and Zenger spent many months in jail, awaiting trial. — Jack Fowler, National Review, "‘The Voice of Journalism’ Has Laryngitis," 8 Apr. 2021 The initial ruling, which came after a three-week trial last July, found a judge dismissing the actor’s libel claim. — Claire Shaffer, Rolling Stone, "Johnny Depp Loses Bid to Challenge Libel Verdict in Case Against ‘The Sun’," 25 Mar. 2021 Before Sullivan, lawsuits for slander and libel hadn’t been understood as implicating the First Amendment at all. — Glenn Harlan Reynolds, WSJ, "How to Restore Balance to Libel Law," 24 Mar. 2021 It is treated in passing as a form of prohibition that (like libel) gets a constitutional pass because of its long common-law tradition, and in which the likelihood of imminent harm is similar to false advertising. — The Economist, "Not gonna lie A timely diagnosis of the problem of rampant dishonesty," 18 Mar. 2021 Oddly, the letter ignores more distinct threats to free speech: libel lawsuits that block legitimate criticism, abuse of copyright laws to hamper commentary and culture, and legal threats that intimidate speakers into silence. — Harper's Magazine, "On Justice and Open Debate," 15 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Krull said one of the main things to consider is whether Dakich libeled or defamed anyone. — Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Indianapolis Star, "What Dan Dakich said was 'stupid' but likely not actionable, experts say; Emmis declines further comment," 25 Mar. 2020 In 1964, the US Supreme Court, in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, raised the standard for public officials to prove they’d been libeled in their official capacity by news organizations. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 9 Mar. 2020 There’s no law against defaming, slandering or libeling the dead. — Danielle Bacher, Billboard, "Taj Jackson Seeking $777,000 to Produce Doc Series About His Uncle Michael: 'I Want to Get the Truth Out There'," 3 Apr. 2019 Gross was threatened with the loss of his Polish state honors and prosecution for ostensibly libelling the nation. — Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, "Poland’s Ruling Party Puts an Extraordinary Museum of Polish-Jewish History into Limbo," 23 Sep. 2019 Gibson’s Bakery filed a lawsuit against the college in 2017, claiming the school and an administrator there hurt their business and libeled them. — Jane Morice | Jmorice@cleveland.com, cleveland, "David Gibson, owner of Gibson’s Bakery in Oberlin, dies after fight with pancreatic cancer," 17 Nov. 2019 But then again, I and my family were not libeled as traitors, crooks, deviants, and imbeciles, and put in legal jeopardy for 22 months as the media and ex-Obama officials ginned up hoax after hoax. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Trump — or What, Exactly?," 27 Aug. 2019 Instead, the jury unanimously determined that Oberlin College libeled the Gibsons. — Brian Pascus, CBS News, "Oberlin College president Carmen Twillie Ambar on the $44 million ruling against the school," 27 June 2019 According to the Chronicle-Telegram, the court found that the college had libeled the bakery and its owners, in addition to inflicting emotional distress on the owners. — Washington Post, "Protests at Oberlin labeled a bakery racist. Now, the college will pay $11 million for libel.," 10 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'libel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near libel

Statistics for libel

Last Updated

27 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Libel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libel. Accessed 6 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for libel

libel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of libel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the act of publishing a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone

libel

verb

English Language Learners Definition of libel (Entry 2 of 2)

: to write and publish a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of (someone)

See the full definition for libel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

libel

noun

li·bel | \ ˈlī-bəl

Kids Definition of libel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the publication of a false statement that hurts a person's reputation

libel

verb

libeled or libelled; libeling or libelling

Kids Definition of libel (Entry 2 of 2)

: to hurt a person's reputation by publishing a false statement

libel

noun

li·bel | \ ˈlī-bəl

Legal Definition of libel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : complaint sense 1 —used especially in admiralty and divorce cases

2a : a defamatory statement or representation especially in the form of written or printed words specifically : a false published statement that injures an individual's reputation (as in business) or otherwise exposes him or her to public contempt

b : the publication of such a libel

c : the crime or tort of publishing a libel — see also single publication rule, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan — compare defamation, slander

Note: Although libel is defined under state case law or statute, the U.S. Supreme Court has enumerated some First Amendment protections that apply to matters of public concern. In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the Court held that in order to recover damages a public person (as a celebrity or politician) who alleges libel (as by a newspaper) has to prove that “the statement was made with ‘actual malice’ — that is, with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not” in order to recover damages. The Court has also held that the states cannot allow a private person to recover damages for libel against a media defendant without a showing of fault (as negligence) on the defendant's part. These protections do not apply to matters that are not of public concern (as an individual's credit report) and that are not published by a member of the mass media. A libel plaintiff must generally establish that the alleged libel refers to him or her specifically, that it was published to others, and that some injury (as to reputation) occurred that gives him or her a right to recover damages (as actual, general, presumed, or special damages). The defendant may plead and establish the truth of the statements as a defense. Criminal libel may have additional elements, as in tending to provoke a breach of peace or in blackening the memory of someone who is dead, and may not have to be published to someone other than the person libeled.

libel

transitive verb

libeled also libelled; libeling also libelling

Legal Definition of libel (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make or publish a libel against : to hurt the reputation of by libel respondent's complaint alleged that he had been libeled by statements in a full-page advertisement — New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)

2 : to proceed against in law by filing a libel (as against a ship or goods) several French ships were libeled in Boston— J. K. Owens

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