libel
Libel is a false written or published statement that harms someone's reputation.
the legal wrong of publishing a false statement that harms a person's or organization's reputation, especially in writing or another lasting form.
A libel is one false harmful statement in writing or another published form.
a particular false written or published statement that damages a person's or organization's reputation.
To libel someone is to write or publish something false that harms their reputation.
to publish or write a false statement about a person or organization that damages their reputation.
A very unfair description that makes someone or something look bad.
an unfair or seriously inaccurate description or representation that damages the reputation of a person, group, place, or thing, even when no legal claim is intended.
- Base: libel
- Plural: libel, libels
- Base: libel
- 3rd Person Singular: libels
- Present Participle: libeling, libelling
- Past: libeled, libelled
blood libel
1antisemitic false accusation
Blood libel is a serious false accusation against a group, especially an old antisemitic lie about Jews.
- The museum exhibit explains the history of the blood libel and its role in antisemitic violence.
- Scholars warn that versions of the blood libel still appear in extremist propaganda.
- The phrase blood libel should not be used casually in ordinary political arguments.
- The book discusses the history of the blood libel.
criminal libel
1crime of defamatory publication
Criminal libel is libel treated as a crime, not just as a private lawsuit.
- Press freedom groups urged the government to repeal its criminal libel laws.
- The editor faced a criminal libel charge after publishing accusations against an official.
- Critics argue that criminal libel can be used to silence journalists.
- The journalist was charged with criminal libel.
- Some countries still have criminal libel laws.
libel law
1rules about libel
Libel law is the set of rules about false published statements that harm reputations.
- Reporters need a basic understanding of libel law before publishing serious accusations.
- The country changed its libel laws to give stronger protection to free speech.
- Under libel law, truth is often a key defense.
- The editor studied libel law.
- Libel laws protect reputations.
libel suit
1libel lawsuit
A libel suit is a court case about a false published statement that harmed someone's reputation.
- The journalist won the libel suit after proving that the report was accurate.
- They settled the libel suit before it went to trial.
- A costly libel suit can discourage small publishers from investigating powerful people.
- The newspaper faced a libel suit.
- They settled the libel suit.
libel tourism
1forum shopping for libel
Libel tourism is choosing a court in a favorable place to bring a libel case.
- The law was designed to discourage libel tourism by limiting enforcement of foreign judgments.
- Publishers worried that libel tourism could let powerful plaintiffs sue in distant courts.
- The court rejected the claim as an attempt at libel tourism.
- The new rule tries to stop libel tourism.
sue for libel
1start a libel lawsuit
To sue for libel is to go to court because someone published a false harmful statement about you.
- The actor sued the magazine for libel over a story about his finances.
- She threatened to sue for libel unless the website corrected the article.
- The company sued for libel after the blog accused it of selling unsafe products.
- He sued the newspaper for libel.
- She may sue for libel.
trade libel
1false business disparagement
Trade libel is a false statement that harms the reputation of a product or business service.
- The manufacturer filed a trade libel claim after a rival falsely said its products were unsafe.
- A negative review is not trade libel if it is honest opinion or based on true facts.
- The court dismissed the trade libel claim because the company could not prove financial loss.
- The company claimed trade libel.
- False claims about a product can be trade libel.