Defamation is a tort where a defendant makes a false and insulting statement about the plaintiff to third parties. The false and insulting statement is referred to as a “defamatory” statement. Defamatory is the adjective form of defamation.
In the United States a public figure – – such as a politician – – usually must prove that the defendant made the defamatory statement knowing that it was false, or with reckless disregard to the truth.
Synonyms:
defamatory
