Defamatory
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Anderson (1889)
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Slanderous; libelous.
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
Words which produce perceptible injury to the reputation of another are described as defamatory. Whence defamation. Defamatory words, if false, are actionable. False defamatory words, if written and published, constitute a libel; if spoken, a slander.^ A defamatoiy publication is a false publipation calciilated to bring the person into disrepute, but it is not necessarily malicious.^ See Fame; Libel, 5; Obloquy; Slander.