libel

Meanings

• noun

  A written or spoken statement that harms a person's reputation.

  - "The article contained several libels against the public figure."
  - "The actor filed a lawsuit for libel after a negative review was published."

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Pronunciation

1. /ˈlaɪbəl/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7467902"

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with libel
bleb , bel , pel , shel , tel

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Variants

List of all variants of libel that leads to same result
libel , libels , libeled , libeler , libelers , libeling , libelist , libelists , libelled , libelling

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French 'libele', meaning 'slander'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'libel' comes from the Latin word 'libellus', meaning 'little book'.

2. Libel was once considered a more serious form of defamation than slander, due to the permanence of written words.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Slander: The spoken form of defamation, contrasting with written defamation, which is called libel.

2. Defamation: The act of making false statements that harm the reputation of an individual, business, or other entity. Both libel and slander fall under the umbrella term of defamation.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. To meet the Supreme Court's definition of "libel" involving a public figure, a quotation must not only be made up or materially altered. It must also defame the person quoted, and damage his or her reputation or livelihood …

   - Jane Gross,{it}New York Times{/it},5 June 1993

2. The above is not only a flat lie but a political "libel" which may possibly damage me. Publish it at your peril …

   - Bernard Shaw,letter,16 Sept. 1949

3. In their tiresome addiction to this use of alleged, the newspapers, though having mainly in mind the danger of "libel" suits, can urge in further justification the lack of any other single word that exactly expresses their meaning; but the fact that a mud-puddle supplies the shortest route is not a compelling reason for walking through it.

   - Ambrose Bierce,{it}Write It Right{/it},1909

4. It is relevant to note that in 1987 the suit against Ms. Malcolm was dismissed … in a narrow ruling that stated that even if the quotations were "false and mischievous," Ms. Malcolm's alterations did not represent malicious intent and therefore did not constitute "libel".

   - Fred W. Friendly,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},25 Feb. 1990

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Libel has been a subject of interest in literature, particularly in works dealing with defamation and reputation. In Shakespeare's 'Othello', for example, the main character is manipulated into believing false rumors about his wife, leading to tragic consequences.

How to Memorize "libel"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a written statement that damages someone's reputation.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'libel' with 'slander' and 'defamation'. Remember that libel is the written form.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the acronym LIS: Libel Is Slander (in writing).

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