slander
[ slan-der ]
/ ˈslæn dər /
noun
defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
Law.
defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
verb (used with object)
to utter slander against; defame.
verb (used without object)
to utter or circulate slander.
Origin of slander
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English
s(c)laundre < Anglo-French
esclaundre, Old French
esclandre, alteration of
escandle < Late Latin
scandalum cause of offense, snare (see
scandal); (v.) Middle English
s(c)laundren to cause to lapse morally, bring to disgrace, discredit, defame < Old French
esclandrer, derivative of
esclandre
OTHER WORDS FROM slander
Words nearby slander
slam-bang,
slam-dunk,
slammer,
slamming,
slamming stile,
slander,
slang,
slang dictionary,
slanging match,
slanguage,
slangy
Example sentences from the Web for slanderous
British Dictionary definitions for slanderous
slander
/ (ˈslɑːndə) /
noun
law
- defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc
- a slanderous statement, etc
any false or defamatory words spoken about a person; calumny
verb
to utter or circulate slander (about)
Derived forms of slander
slanderer, noun slanderous, adjective slanderously, adverb slanderousness, nounWord Origin for slander
C13: via Anglo-French from Old French
escandle, from Late Latin
scandalum a cause of offence; see
scandal