This type of defamation action is commonly known as self-defamation. Before the law will hold the originator of a defamatory statement liable for defamation, publication of the defamatory comments must occur. Generally, defamatory communications are those communications which tend to injure one's reputation.
Defamation is a statement that injures a third party's reputation. The tort of defamation includes both libel (written statements) and slander (spoken statements). State common law and statutory law governs defamation actions, and each state varies in their standards for defamation and potential damages .
Damaging the reputation of a person or group by saying or writing bad things about them that are not true: highly defamatory He claims the remarks were highly defamatory. The magazine had refused to withdraw the defamatory allegations.
Defamation | Business English the act of harming someone's reputation by saying or writing bad things about them: The lawsuit accused his former associates of defamation. One member of the team is suing for slander and defamation of character. a defamation lawsuit/case/action.
Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is an untrue defamatory statement that is spoken orally. The difference between defamation and slander is that a defamatory statement can be made in any medium. It could be in a blog comment or spoken in a speech or said on television.