Defamation

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /dɛfəˈmeɪʃən/

Definitions of defamation

noun the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel

Example Sentences

A1 Defamation is when someone says something bad about another person.

A2 The celebrity sued the magazine for defamation after they published false information about her.

B1 The company was accused of defamation for spreading rumors about their competitor.

B2 In some countries, defamation laws are very strict and can result in hefty fines.

C1 The politician's reputation was severely damaged by the defamation campaign launched against him.

C2 The legal team advised their client to pursue a defamation lawsuit against the media outlet for their false accusations.

Examples of defamation in a Sentence

formal The company is suing for defamation after false information was spread about their products.

informal She was spreading lies about him, that's defamation!

slang Don't listen to her, she's just talking smack - it's all defamation.

figurative His reputation was shattered, like a glass hitting the ground, by the defamation.

Grammatical Forms of defamation

past tense

defamed

plural

defamations

comparative

more defamatory

superlative

most defamatory

present tense

defames

future tense

will defame

perfect tense

have defamed

continuous tense

is defaming

singular

defamation

positive degree

defamatory

infinitive

to defame

gerund

defaming

participle

defamed

Origin and Evolution of defamation

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'defamation' originated from the Latin word 'defamatio', which is derived from the verb 'defamare' meaning 'to spread evil report or slander'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'defamation' has evolved to encompass a broader range of harmful statements made about someone's reputation, including libel and slander.