Defame
To damage or ruin someone's reputation by making false statements or presenting them in a harmful way; to slander.
verbDefame
To damage or ruin someone's reputation by making false statements or presenting them in a harmful way; to slander.
verbImagine This
Imagine a gossip magazine printing a story that a local teacher stole from a store. The article contains unverified claims and makes the teacher look guilty, causing students and parents to shun them—defaming the teacher before any truth is known.
Sounds Like
dih-FAYM
Looks Like
de-fame (looks like 'de' + 'fame')
Remember This
Defamation requires false statements; if a claim is true, it is not defamation. Distinguish defaming (verb) from defamation (noun) and defamatory (adjective).
Other Forms
Connect With
Malign; Vilify
Note
Be careful not to mistake criticism or opinions for defamation; defamation involves false statements of fact that harm a person’s reputation. In law, libel is written defamation and slander is spoken defamation.