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defamation definition - legal

n

The utterance of a false statement that harms the reputation of another. Although most state laws require that a defamatory statement be made with knowledge of its falsehood, in some jurisdictions a cause of action exists for negligent defamation. Libel (involving a written false statement, including statements transmitted on the Internet) and slander (spoken, as opposed to written, false statements), are both forms of defamation.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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