defamation

Defined in 9 dictionaries — U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Burrill (1850), Bouvier (1839)

United States Code

28 U.S.C. § 4101 — in this chapter (2 versions over time)

The term “defamation” means any action or other proceeding for defamation, libel, slander, or similar claim alleging that forms of speech are false, have caused damage to reputation or emotional distress, have presented any person in a false light, or have resulted in criticism, dishonor, or condemnation of any person.

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

The speaking or writing words of a person so as to hurt his good fame, de bona fama aliquid detrahere. Written defamation is termed "libel," and oral defamation "slander." DEFAMES (Law Fr.) Infamous.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A false publication calculated to bring one into disrepute. See 103 Iowa, 214, 64 Am. St. Rep. 175, 39 L. R. A. 734, 72 N. W. 518.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

The speaking or writing words of a person so as to hurt his good fame, de bona fama aliquid detrahere. Written defamation is termed libel, and oral defamation slander, which titles see. It is a term more used in England than in this country. See Libel; Slander.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

The taking from one's reputation. The offense of injuring a person's character, fame or reputation by false and malicious statements. The term seems to be comprehensive of both libel and slander. Printing Co., v. Moulden, 15 Tex. Civ. App. 574, 41 S. W. 381; Moore v. Francis, 121 N. Y. 199, 23 N. E. 1127, 8L.R.A. 214, 18 Am. St Rep. 810; Hollenbeck v. Hall, 103.Iowa, 214, 72 N. W. 518, 39 L. R. A. 734, 64 Am. St. Rep. 175; Mosnat v, Snyder, 105 Iowa, 500, 75 N. W. 356.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

The speaking or writing of good fame. Written defamation is defamation slander, v. Libel; Slander.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

The taking from one’s reputation. The offense of injuring a person's character, fame, or repntation by false and malicious statements. The term seems to be comprehensive of both libel and slander.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

[L. Lat. defamatio, diffamatio; from fama, reputation.] The taking from one's reputation. The offence of injuring a person's character, fame or reputation, either by writing or by words. Written defamation is otherwise termed libel, and oral defamation, slander. Cooke's Law of Defamation, I. See Libel, Slander.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

tort, is the speaking slanderous words of a person so as, de bonis fama aliquid detrahere, to hurt his good fame. V. Slander.