Slander Meaning
/ˈslɑːndə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.
verbTo utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of; to wrong.
Sentence Examples
You have the right to free speech, but not the right to slander.
Everything he's saying is slander.
Hatred, infamy and slander have not conquered my spirit.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
He threatened to ____ the politician by spreading lies about his past.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Making false statements to damage someone's reputation is known as ____ in legal terms.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English slaundre, sclaundre, from Old French esclandre, from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum (“stumbling block, temptation”), from Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον (skándalon, “scandal”). Doublet of scandal.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough?
Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him.
Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]"
— 1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He threatened to ____ the politician by spreading lies about his past.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Making false statements to damage someone's reputation is known as ____ in legal terms.