DEFAMATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defamation mean? 

• DEFAMATION (noun)
  The noun DEFAMATION has 2 senses:

1. a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

2. an abusive attack on a person's character or good name

  Familiarity information: DEFAMATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFAMATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

calumniation; calumny; defamation; hatchet job; obloquy; traducement

Hypernyms ("defamation" is a kind of...):

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "defamation"):

assassination; blackwash; character assassination (an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation)

malignment; smear; vilification (slanderous defamation)

libel (a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person)

slander (words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another)

name calling; names (verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument)

epithet; name (a defamatory or abusive word or phrase)

Derivation:

defame (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An abusive attack on a person's character or good name

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

aspersion; calumny; defamation; denigration; slander

Hypernyms ("defamation" is a kind of...):

attack (strong criticism)

Derivation:

defame (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)