libel

li·bel  (lbl)

n.

1.

a. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation.

b. The act of presenting such material to the public.

2. The written claims presented by a plaintiff in an action at admiralty law or to an ecclesiastical court.

tr.v. li·beled or li·belled, li·bel·ing or li·bel·ling, li·bels

To publish a libel about (a person). See Synonyms at malign.

---

[Middle English, litigant's written complaint, from Old French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber, book.]

---

libel·er, libel·ist n.

---

libel

Noun

1. Law the publication of something false which damages a person's reputation

2. any damaging or unflattering representation or statement

Verb

[-belling, -belled] or US [-beling, -beled]

Law to make or publish a false damaging statement or representation about (a person) [Latin libellus a little book]

libellous
libelous adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	libel - a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person civil wrong, tort - (law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement, obloquy - a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
	2.	libel - the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks complaint - (civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Verb	1.	libel - print slanderous statements against; "The newspaper was accused of libeling him" asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, slander, smirch, denigrate, sully, smear - charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"

---

libel

noun 1. defamation, slander, misrepresentation, denigration, smear, calumny, vituperation, obloquy, aspersion

verb 2. defame, smear, slur, blacken, malign, denigrate, revile, vilify, slander, traduce, derogate, calumniate, drag (someone's) name through the mud

Translations

libel [ˈlaɪbl] n → calumnia

vt → calumniar

---

libel [ˈlaɪbl] n → diffamation f (= document); écrit m diffamatoire

vt → diffamer

---

libel [ˈlaɪbl] n → Verleumdung f

vt → verleumden

---

libel [ˈlaɪbl] n → libello, diffamazione f

vt → diffamare