libel

play

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

Definition of libel

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

When journalist Tim O’Brien wrote that Trump was worth only $150 to $250 million, Trump sued him for libel in 2006, demanding $5 billion in damages.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "When Will President Trump Fire Robert Mueller?," 21 July 2017
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
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
HNA denied those claims and sued Guo in New York for libel.

— young-sam cho, Bloomberg.com, "Why China Is Scrutinizing Its Biggest Dealmakers: QuickTake Q&A," 27 June 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
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
The winner of that election has threatened to remove libel protections and retaliate against specific news organizations while riling up crowds against the media at his Nuremberg-style rallies.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "Democracy dies in darkness, so please turn on the freakin' camera lights!," 26 June 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.

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

See Words from the same year

libel Synonyms

Synonyms

aspersing, blackening, calumniation, calumny, character assassination, defamation, defaming, slander, libeling (or libelling), maligning, smearing, traducing, vilification, vilifying

Near Antonyms

acclaim, accolade, applause, commendation, praise; esteem, honor, respect; adulation, flattery; adoration, reverence, veneration, worship

Other Legal Terms

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

libel

play

verb li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

Definition of libel

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

A jury in November found that Ms. Eramo was libeled by the Rolling Stone article and in comments made after publication by Ms. Erdely and the magazine.

— matthew haag, New York Times, "Rolling Stone Settles Lawsuit Over Debunked Campus Rape Article," 11 Apr. 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

See Words from the same year

libel Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scorn

Near Antonyms

exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship

Other Legal Terms

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

LIBEL Defined for English Language Learners

libel

play

noun

Definition of libel for English Language Learners

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

libel

play

verb

Definition of libel for English Language Learners

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

LIBEL Defined for Kids

libel

play

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

Definition of libel for Students

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

libel

verb

Definition of libel for Students

libeled or libelled; libeling or libelling

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

—

libeler

or libeller noun

Law Dictionary

libel

play

noun li·bel \ ˈlī-bəl \

legal Definition of libel

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

legal Definition of libel

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)

several French ships were libeled in Boston
—J. K. Owens

Learn More about libel

See words that rhyme with libel Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for libel Spanish Central: Translation of libel Nglish: Translation of libel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of libel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about libel

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libel

Definition of libel

From the M-W Editors

Examples of libel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of libel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of libel

libel Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Legal Terms

libel

Definition of libel

libeler

libelist

Examples of libel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of libel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of libel

libel Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Legal Terms

LIBEL Defined for English Language Learners

libel

Definition of libel for English Language Learners

libel

Definition of libel for English Language Learners

LIBEL Defined for Kids

libel

Definition of libel for Students

libel

Definition of libel for Students

libeler

Law Dictionary

libel

legal Definition of libel

Origin and Etymology of libel

libel

legal Definition of libel

Learn More about libel

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