defamation
Saying or publishing false things that damage someone’s good name.
The act of harming a person’s or organization’s reputation by making or spreading false statements about them.
A legal claim about false words that hurt someone’s reputation.
In law, the wrong of communicating a false statement of fact about a person or organization that harms their reputation and may justify a claim for damages.
- Base: defamation
- Plural: defamation
criminal defamation
1defamation treated as crime
A crime, in some places, involving false statements that damage someone’s reputation.
- Journalists criticized the country’s criminal defamation laws as a threat to free speech.
- The activist was charged with criminal defamation after criticizing a public official.
- Some countries have criminal defamation laws.
defamation claim
1formal allegation of defamation
A formal statement that someone defamed you.
- The judge dismissed the defamation claim because the article was substantially true.
- Her lawyers said the broadcast gave them grounds for a defamation claim.
- The court rejected his defamation claim.
defamation lawsuit
1lawsuit over defamatory statements
A court case about false statements that damaged someone’s reputation.
- The company filed a defamation lawsuit against the former employee.
- After months of negotiations, the two sides settled the defamation lawsuit.
- He won the defamation lawsuit.
defamation of character
1false attacks on reputation
False statements that damage a person’s reputation.
- He threatened to sue the blog for defamation of character after it accused him of theft.
- Calling the review defamation of character, the owner demanded a public apology.
- The false story was defamation of character.
sue for defamation
1bring a defamation case
To take someone to court because they damaged your reputation with false statements.
- The mayor sued the newspaper for defamation over the corruption story.
- You cannot successfully sue for defamation just because a comment embarrassed you.
- She sued him for defamation.