libel

C2 Topic:Law & Government

US /ˈlaɪbəl/ UK /ˈlaɪbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #22556

Meanings

1

noun
a published false statement in a lasting form, such as writing or an image, that unjustly damages a person's reputation; also the legal wrong of publishing it

The newspaper withdrew the allegation after the subject filed a libel claim.
2

verb
to defame someone by publishing a damaging false statement

The court found that the article did not libel the public official.
3

noun
historical: a written accusation, complaint, polemical tract, or formal legal pleading

The minister answered each libel published against the new system of taxation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a published false statement... written defamationdefamatory statement

2 verb · to defame someone by... defame maligntradduce

3 noun · historical: a written... lampoon pamphletwritten complaintpleading

Word family

Forms libels

Derived forms libelouslibellouslibelerlibeller

Related forms defamationslander calumny reputation

Etymology

From Middle English libel and Old French libelle, from Latin libellus, 'little book, petition, or written complaint,' the diminutive of liber, 'book.' The legal sense developed from a formal written pleading, while the defamatory sense arose from hostile written accusations and pamphlets.

Topics

Law & Government

External links

# libel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈlaɪbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlaɪbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 22556

## Meanings
1. a published false statement in a lasting form, such as writing or an image, that unjustly damages a person's reputation; also the legal wrong of publishing it
2. to defame someone by publishing a damaging false statement
3. historical: a written accusation, complaint, polemical tract, or formal legal pleading

## Examples
- The newspaper withdrew the allegation after the subject filed a libel claim.
- The court found that the article did not libel the public official.
- The minister answered each libel published against the new system of taxation.

## Synonyms
- written defamation
- defamatory statement
- defame
- malign
- lampoon
- written complaint

## Derived Forms
- libelous
- libellous
- libeler
- libeller

## Related Forms
- defamation
- slander
- calumny
- reputation

## Etymology
From Middle English libel and Old French libelle, from Latin libellus, 'little book, petition, or written complaint,' the diminutive of liber, 'book.' The legal sense developed from a formal written pleading, while the defamatory sense arose from hostile written accusations and pamphlets.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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