defamation def‧a‧ma‧tion [ˌdefəˈmeɪʆn] noun [uncountable]
LAW the act of writing or saying bad or untrue things about someone, so that people will have a bad opinion of them:
• He sued the newspaper for defamation of character.
— defame verb [transitive]
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defamation UK US /ˌdefəˈmeɪʃən/ noun [U]
► LAW the act of harming someone's reputation by saying or writing bad things about them: »
The lawsuit accused his former associates of defamation.
»One member of the team is suing for slander and defamation of character.
»a defamation lawsuit/case/action
Financial and business terms. 2012.