Calumny: meaning, definitions and examples

This word typically has a literary or old-fashioned tone and refers to making false and damaging statements about someone.

• The politician's career was ruined by the constant calumny spread about him

Appropriate for false, damaging statements that are spoken rather than written.

• Spreading rumors that someone is dishonest can be considered slander

A more general legal term, suitable for describing false statements that damage someone's reputation in both spoken and written forms.

• She sued the magazine for defamation after they published a false story about her personal life

Used specifically to describe false statements that are written or published, and damage someone's reputation.

• He accused the newspaper of libel for printing an article that wrongly suggested he was involved in a scandal