libel Hear it!

libel Definition

li·bel (lī′bəl)

noun

  1. any false and malicious written or printed statement, or any sign, picture, or effigy, tending to expose a person to public ridicule, hatred, or contempt or to injure a person's reputation in any way
  2. the act of publishing or displaying publicly such a thing
  3. anything that gives an unflattering or damaging picture of the subject with which it is dealing
  4. in ecclesiastical law and formerly in maritime law, a written statement containing the plaintiff's grievances; initial pleading

Etymology: ME, little book < OFr < L libellus, little book, writing, lampoon, dim. of liber, a book: see library

transitive verb -·beled or -·belled, -·bel·ing or -·bel·ling

  1. to publish or make a libel against
  2. to give an unflattering or damaging picture of
  3. to bring suit against by presenting a libel ()

libel Synonyms

libel

n.

calumny, slander, lying; see lie 1.

libel Law Definition

n

  1. A false and defamatory statement expressed in writing or in an electronic medium.
  2. The first document or pleading filed in an admiralty action, which is now called a complaint. 

libel Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • repeat: For one thing, such titles are often themselves libelous, and simply quoting it back repeats the libel.
  • publish: Do not believe libel published in other journals folks.
  • contain: Lukacs ' book contains so many libels of this nature, that Mr Irving wrote a warning letter to publisher Alfred Knopf.
  • include: The cover is wide-ranging and includes libel and slander actions and professional indemnity.
  • do: Legal: Observe copyright, cite sources, don't libel.
  • commit: Remember, if it moves, its likely committing libel in some way shape or form.

Adjective modifier

  • seditious: The following year his attacks on the governor of New York led to him being arrested for seditious libel.
  • blasphemous: The common law offense of blasphemous libel is still in place in the " free " country of Great Britain!
  • alleged: The evidence copy of an alleged criminal libel may also be found in KB 1.
  • criminal: The evidence copy of an alleged criminal libel may also be found in KB 1.
  • serious: It is difficult to imagine a more serious libel than to accuse a business of being associated with terrorism.
  • obscene: Boy, by James Hanley, first published in 1931 and banned three years later on grounds of obscene libel.

Modifies a noun

  • writ: He issues a libel writ against " Street " magazine.
  • suit: In December 2000, Smith filed a $ 400,000 libel suit against Baron.
  • action: The libel action was expected to last six weeks.
  • trial: Several BNP members attended Irving's failed libel trial last year.
  • lawyer: I can hear the libel lawyers sharpening their quill pens now.
  • proceeding: The former Labor MP issued libel proceedings against the Daily Telegraph.

Noun used with modifier

  • blood: The blood libel itself is worthy of further analysis by social scientists.
  • Internet: The case is thought to be the first definitive ruling by the English High Court on an issue of Internet libel.