libel

noun

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

The McCann’s sued him for libel and won in 2015, according to BBC. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Who Are Madeleine McCann's Parents? What to Know About Kate and Gerry McCann," 14 Mar. 2019 The country’s National Police Agency said in March that the number of reports of online libel and slander had increased to 11,136 in 2016 from 9,425 in 2013. — Satoshi Sugiyama, New York Times, "Japanese Blogger Is Killed After Giving Lecture on Online Trolls," 26 June 2018 Throughout the occupation, Quinn and O’Hara held dueling press conferences and radio broadcasts, gestating additional libel suits and another arrest of O’Hara. — Richard E. Farley, Town & Country, "The Great American Racetrack War," 9 June 2017 But then the sources start to get a little jittery as publication becomes a real possibility, and legal departments get concerned about libel laws, and everything dies on the vine. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Les Moonves’s resignation is the most significant #MeToo moment yet," 12 Sep. 2018 While the Supreme Court was in session hearing the arguments across town, Governor Quinn held a press conference announcing he had lodged a police complaint against O’Hara for criminal libel. — Richard E. Farley, Town & Country, "The Great American Racetrack War," 9 June 2017 Nabih Berri, Amal's chief and Lebanon's parliament speaker, who has long been the subject of critical coverage from Al Jadeed's, sued the TV channel for libel on Wednesday for its reporting. — Philip Issa, Fox News, "A goodwill gesture over electricity sows discord in Lebanon," 10 Aug. 2018 People might find themselves on the wrong end of a defamation or libel lawsuit. — Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, "ISP to Facebook users: Stop 'armchair sleuthing' on Delphi murders," 19 July 2017 Johnson's attorney, Thomas McAdam, also sent a letter to the Courier-Journal demanding the news organization retract and delete three stories about the allegations or face a libel suit. — Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Who's leading Metro Council's sexual harassment work group? Dan Johnson's accuser," 27 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Actor James Woods thinks the trooper should sue anyone who libeled him while perpetuating the lie and media analyst Mark Dice agrees. — Brian Flood, Fox News, "Shaun King slammed for pushing woman's now-discredited claim trooper sexually assaulted her," 25 May 2018 The virtues of a free press come under attack in another scene, in which a woman dumps a bucket of excrement over the head of a local official, claiming that she has been libeled by a local newspaper. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Russian drama takes the stage at Cannes in the sweet 'Leto' and the scathing 'Donbass'," 11 May 2018 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 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

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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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