slander

 
Pronunciation: /ˈslɑːndə/

noun

[mass noun] Law
  • the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation: he is suing the TV company for slanderCompare with libel
  • [count noun] a false and malicious spoken statement: I’ve had just about all I can stomach of your slanders

verb

[with object]
  • make false and damaging statements about (someone): they were accused of slandering the head of state

Derivatives

slanderer

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from late Latin scandalum (see scandal)