Dictionary of Law
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defamation :: legal definition


Defamation - n. the act of making untrue statements about another which damages his/her reputation. If the defamatory statement is printed or broadcast over the media it is libel and, if only oral, it is slander. Public figures, including officeholders and candidates, have to show that the defamation was made with malicious intent and was not just fair comment. Damages for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malice. Some statements such as an accusation of having committed a crime, having a feared disease or being unable to perform one's occupation are called libel per se or slander per se and can more easily lead to large money awards in court and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Most states provide for a demand for a printed retraction of defamation and only allow a lawsuit if there is no such admission of error.

See also: fair comment libel public figure slander and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
innuendo :: n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it ... See also: defamation libel slander
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
malice :: n. a conscious, intentional wrongdoing either of a ... cution murder public figure slander
prior restraint :: n. an attempt to prevent publication or broadcast ... e words of Sir William Blackstone).
privacy :: n. the right to be free of unnecessary public scru ... lso: public figure right to privacy
public figure :: n. in the law of defamation (libel and slander), a ... See also: defamation libel slander
publication :: n. 1) anything made public by print (as in a news- ... so: defamation libel notice slander
reputation :: n. a person's good name, honor or what the communi ... See also: defamation libel slander
retraction :: n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit ... igation. See also: defamation libel
slander :: n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or ... . See also: defamation fair comment
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
wrongful termination :: n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer ... ing an employee's grounds for suit.

Popular Law Searches

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Other Law Terms - D

D.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol.
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
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date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape
day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket."
de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis.
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon
dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property.
death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes.
death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.