defamation

/ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/
noun
  1. The act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements about them, either in writing (libel) or speech (slander).
    • The celebrity sued the magazine for defamation after it published false stories about her personal life.
    • Spreading rumors about a coworker can be considered defamation if the statements are untrue and harmful.
    • In many countries, defamation is a civil offense that can result in financial damages.
What does "defamation" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean