libel
/ˈlaɪbəl/ · li·bel
noun
- A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation. The newspaper was sued for libel after publishing false information about the politician.
- The act or crime of displaying such a statement publicly. The court found the defendant guilty of libel for posting the defamatory message online.
- Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire. The comedian's libel of the politician was a clever satire that poked fun at the politician's policies.
verb
- To defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel. He libelled her when he published that scathing review.
- To proceed against (a ship, goods, etc.) by filing a libel. The ship was libelled by the insurance company after it sank in a storm.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The term 'libel' comes from the Latin 'libellus', meaning 'little book', which was originally used to describe a small written complaint or accusation.