The difference between Defamation and Libel

When used as nouns, defamation means the act of injuring another person's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral, whereas libel means a written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.


Libel is also verb with the meaning: to defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.

check bellow for the other definitions of Defamation and Libel

  1. Defamation as a noun:

    The act of injuring another person's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another.

  1. Libel as a noun (countable):

    A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.

  2. Libel as a noun (uncountable):

    The act or crime of displaying such a statement publicly.

  3. Libel as a noun (countable):

    Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire.

  4. Libel as a noun (law, countable):

    A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.

  5. Libel as a noun (countable):

    A brief writing of any kind, especially a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Chaucer"

  1. Libel as a verb (transitive):

    To defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.

    Examples:

    "He libelled her when he published that."

  2. Libel as a verb (legal):

    To proceed against (a ship, goods, etc.) by filing a libel.