libel

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

1 a : 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

2 a : 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

See libel defined for English-language learners

See libel defined for kids

Examples of libel in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of libel from the Web

Two recent decisions in libel suits against Mr. Trump have helped clarify matters.

— adam liptak, New York Times, "‘A Bit of Divine Justice’: Trump Vowed to Change Libel Law. But Not Like This.," 2 Apr. 2018
Jewish history professor Deborah Lipstadt discussed her 1996 legal case in Britain involving a libel suit by Holocaust denier David Irving in an Anti-Defamation League lecture that took place at Boca West Country Club.

— marvin glassman, Jewish Journal, "Overcoming hate topic of discussion at Boca Raton lectures," 22 Mar. 2018
Trump threatens a libel suit, Wolff’s publisher pushes the book to an earlier print date.

— philip h. devoe, National Review, "Michael Wolff’s Troubled Relationship with the Truth," 20 Jan. 2018
The fire had caused about $100,000 in damages -- the same amount Young's Confectionary had sought in its libel suit that February.

— james karst, NOLA.com, "The blazing hot cake war of 1921," 14 Jan. 2018
Lipstadt stated that her victory came as a result of her defense demonstrating in court that her accusations of Irving denying facts about the Holocaust were substantially true and therefore not subject to libel.

— marvin glassman, Jewish Journal, "Overcoming hate topic of discussion at Boca Raton lectures," 22 Mar. 2018
Morgan sued Thomas Malthus for libel, won the case, and was awarded £200 in damages.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Island that Disappeared," 20 Mar. 2018
Other types of speech including slander, libel or speech that incites violence also are not protected.

— shelby webb, Houston Chronicle, "Can Houston-area students be punished for protesting?," 23 Feb. 2018
On Tuesday, a California appeals court reversed the trial court by determining that the libel and privacy claims weren't ripe.

— eriq gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, "Appeals Court Narrows Lawsuit Brought by Duchess Fergie's Former Lover," 6 Feb. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of libel

Middle English, written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

libel Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

libel

verb li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

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

intransitive verb

: to make libelous statements

transitive verb

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

—

libeler

play \ˈlī-b(ə-)lər\ noun

—

libelist

play \ˈlī-bə-list\ noun

See libel defined for English-language learners

Examples of libel in a Sentence

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 of libel from the Web

The two ultimately went to trial because Irving felt libeled that Lipstadt called him a Holocaust denier in her book.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Women Don't Owe Men a Debate About Feminism," 20 Mar. 2018
The attorney said the website libels Sibley, interferes with the recruitment of businesses and new residents, and negatively affects property rights.

— USA TODAY, "Iowa man who complained about town’s ‘stench’ sues after city officials threaten to sue him," 8 Mar. 2018
Just as the First Amendment’s protects free speech, but doesn’t give a license to people to libel others.

— andrés oppenheimer, miamiherald, "Kudos to Gables’ Mayor Valdes-Fauli for proposing a ban on semi-automatic weapons | Miami Herald," 26 Feb. 2018
Jace Richter, 18, who was released from the football team after the allegations against him went public, also asserts that he was defamed, slandered, libeled and portrayed in a false light, according to the suit filed in early December.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Ex-BSU football player says he was assaulted, defamed in countersuit | Idaho Statesman," 20 Dec. 2017
More: Ex-cop accused in new lawsuit of raping another former Explorer Scout On top of causing emotional trauma, the suit claims, Goodlett's actions libeled the former students and damaged their reputations.

— matthew glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "Students knew their nude photos had leaked. They didn't expect their principal was to blame," 28 Sep. 2017
The poll became public when it was submitted by Issa in an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging that Applegate attack ads libeled the incumbent.

— martin wisckol, Orange County Register, "Conservative Darrell Issa turns to the left," 19 Mar. 2017
The courts ruled O’Brien had not libeled him and he was not entitled to $5 billion as a result.

— vanityfair.com, "Why Melania Trump’s Lawsuit Is the Trumpiest It Gets," 9 Feb. 2017
The courts ruled O’Brien had not libeled him and he was not entitled to $5 billion as a result.

— william d. cohan, The Hive, "Why Melania Trump’s Lawsuit Is the Trumpiest It Gets," 9 Feb. 2017

Origin and Etymology of libel

see ¹libel

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1588

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

libel Synonyms

Synonyms

asperse, blacken, defame, malign, slander, smear, traduce, vilify;

Near Antonyms

exalt, glorify, honor;

acclaim, applaud, commend, praise;

esteem, respect;

admire, regard;

adore, revere, venerate, worship;

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame;

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate;

disdain, scorn;

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

LIBEL Defined for English Language Learners

libel

noun

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

libel

verb

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

LIBEL Defined for Kids

libel

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

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

libel

verb

libeled or libelled; libeling or libelling

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

—

libeler

or libeller noun

Law Dictionary

libel

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

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

2 a : 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.

Origin and Etymology of libel

Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book

libel

transitive verb

libeled also libelled; libeling also libelling

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)