slander

If your classmate spreads a false rumor that you cheated on the math test, that's slander. Slander is the act of saying an untrue, negative statement about someone.

In law, the word slander is contrasted with libel, which is the act of making a false written statement about someone. The noun slander is from Old French esclandre, escandle, or "scandal," from Late Latin scandalum "stumbling block, offense."

Definitions of slander
  1. noun
    words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
    see moresee less
    types:
    mud
    slanderous remarks or charges
    type of:
    calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, obloquy, traducement
    a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
    speech act
    the use of language to perform some act
  2. noun
    an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
    synonyms: aspersion, calumny, defamation, denigration
    see moresee less
    type of:
    attack
    strong criticism
  3. verb
    charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
    synonyms: asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, denigrate, smear, smirch, sully
    see moresee less
    types:
    assassinate
    destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation
    libel
    print slanderous statements against
    badmouth, drag through the mud, malign, traduce
    speak unfavorably about
    type of:
    accuse, charge
    blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against
Word Family