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 .
In simplest terms, the distinction between the two is that libel is a written, and especially published, statement, and slander is spoken. The English language is heavy with synonyms, and we have a seemingly superfluous number of words for many specific things or qualities.
Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is untrue statement that is spoken orally.
Slander. The publication of a defamatory matter by spoken Words, transitory gestures or by any form of communication other than those stated in subsection 1 (libel)
First Exception. —Imputation of truth which public good requires to be made or published. —It is not defamation to impute anything which is true concerning any person, if it be for the public good that the imputation should be made or published. Whether or not it is for the public good is a question of fact.
The categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child , defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words.
Some common synonyms of slander are asperse, calumniate, defame, malign, traduce, and vilify. While all these words mean "to injure by speaking ill of," slander stresses the suffering of the victim.
To slander is making a false statement about another person or people verbally with the intent to defame the subject of the statements. Slander is a legal term used to describe defamation, or harming the reputation of a person or a business by telling one or more others something both untrue and damaging about them.
Defamation is a false expression about a person that damages that person's reputation. Slander is when defamation is spoken. Libel is when defamation is published in a more lasting form.