Defamation is defined as the act of ruining someone's reputation through slander or libel.
An example of defamation is spreading lies about a public figure that destroys his career.
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The act of defaming; calumny, slander, or libel.
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A defaming or being defamed; detraction, slander, or libel.
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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.
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Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
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Origin of defamation
From Old French diffamacion (French diffamation), from Latindiffamatio
Sentence Examples
(6) Defamation was taken away in England by 18 & 19 Vict.
Cruise got wind of it and filed a defamation suit against Sapir.
They have in a similar manner been relieved of their jurisdiction in testamentary matters, and in matters of defamation and of brawling in churches; and the only jurisdiction which they continue to exercise over the general laity is with regard to their use of the churches and churchyards.
1 3Xaa477uLa, profane language, slander, probably derived from root of Ovi rrEt y, to injure, and 017µr7, speech), literally, defamation or evil speaking, but more peculiarly restricted to an indignity offered to the Deity by words or writing.
I have replied that reporting does not constitute defamation.