defamation

[ def-uh-mey-shuh n ]

/ ˌdɛf əˈmeɪ ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR defamation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny: She sued the magazine for defamation of character.

Origin of defamation

1275–1325; Middle English; replacing (by analogy with defame) Middle English diffamacioun < Medieval Latin diffāmātiōn- (stem of diffāmātiō), equivalent to Latin diffāmāt(us) (past participle of diffāmāre; see defame) + -iōn- -ion

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defamation

defamation liable libel slander (see usage note at liable)

Words nearby defamation

def., deface, defaecate, defalcate, defalcation, defamation, defamatory, defame, defamiliarization, defang, default

Example sentences from the Web for defamation

Among these are obscenity, defamation, fighting words, express incitement to unlawful conduct, and threats.

Does Free Speech Cover Murder Fantasies? The Supreme Court’s Definition of a ‘Threat’ |Geoffrey R. Stone |December 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She later sued Eminem for defamation over the violent song and the case was settled out of court.

Eminem’s Rape Fantasy with Iggy Azalea: The Tired, Juvenile Misogyny Needs to Stop |Marlow Stern |November 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
One of the suits against Kelley charged her with defamation for calling Miller an “intimacy stalker” in her LiveJournal page.

The Mystery Woman Who Tried to Outdo Dillinger |Michael Daly |September 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
One researcher, in defense of the animals, even sued Disney for defamation (PDF) of character.

‘The Lion King’ Turns 20: Every Crazy, Weird Fact About the Disney Classic |Kevin Fallon |June 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Mori sued the publisher of the magazine for defamation but dropped the lawsuit in November of 2011.

The Yakuza Olympics |Jake Adelstein |February 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Defamation is the greatest curse in the United States, and its effects upon society I shall presently point out.

Diary in America, Series Two |Frederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)
Do you know that Master Raymond can have his action against you for very heavy damages, for slander and defamation?

Dulcibel |Henry Peterson
With the first tidings of the battle fought at Minden the defamation of this officer arrived.

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II. |Tobias Smollett
Mr. Gilbert could not, and shortly Mr. Perkins brought two complaints of defamation of character.

Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony |George Francis Dow
They began a campaign of defamation against Doctor Grenfell and his whole field of work.

The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador |Dillon Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for defamation

defamation

/ (ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

law the injuring of a person's good name or reputation Compare libel, slander

the act of defaming or state of being defamed

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

defamation

noun

Origin of defamation

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defamation

Words nearby defamation

Example sentences from the Web for defamation

British Dictionary definitions for defamation

noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

defamation

noun

Origin of defamation

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defamation

Words nearby defamation

Words related to defamation

Example sentences from the Web for defamation

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for defamation

noun

British Dictionary definitions for defamation