defamation
noun /ˌdefəˈmeɪʃn/
/ˌdefəˈmeɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable] (formal)- the act of damaging somebody’s reputation by saying or writing bad or false things about them
- The company sued for defamation.
- He brought a legal action against the magazine for defamation of character.
- Such a defamation might cause injury to the business goodwill of the corporation.