libel
noun [ C or U ]
LAW uk/ˈlaɪbəl/ ussomething written or published that makes false or unfair statements that are likely to damage the reputation of a person or organization:
libel suit/lawsuit They filed a libel lawsuit against the person responsible for the web posting.
He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after the collapse of his libel action against the newspaper.
He was determined to sue any publication that repeated the libels.
Compare
slander
libel
verb [ T ]
LAW uk/ˈlaɪbəl/ usUK -ll- | US -l-to write or publish something which makes false or unfair statements that are likely to damage the reputation of a person or organization:
He pardoned two journalists who had been sentenced to prison for libelling the foreign minister.
Compare
slander