defame

[dih-feym]

verb (used with object)

defamed, defaming 

1. to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate.

   The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.

   Synonyms: backbite, denigrate, revile, derogate, vilify, discredit, disparage, malign

2. Archaic.,  to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.

3. Archaic.,  to accuse.

defame

/ dɪˈfeɪm /

verb

1. to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel

2. archaic,  to indict or accuse

Other Word Forms

• defamer noun
• defamingly adverb
• undefamed adjective
• undefaming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defamen, from Anglo-French defamer or directly from Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, variant of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre ( dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus “infamous”) “to spread the news of, slander,” equivalent to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verbal derivative of fāma “news, rumor, slander” ( fame ); replacing Middle English diffamen, from Anglo-French, Old French diffamer or directly from Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of defame¹

C14: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma _fame

Example Sentences

Technically the privy council is not covered by the lese majeste law, which states that it is an offence to defame only the king, queen, heir to the throne or anyone acting as regent.

From BBC

At the time, he denied the allegations and accused one woman of defaming him, and the other woman of illegally taking his cellphone after consenting to being recorded.

From Los Angeles Times

In May, a jury found the 76-year-old had been defamed when it was alleged by an anonymous contributor that he sanctioned the 2006 killing.

From BBC

Capriglione said he was “not above scrutiny,” but threatened legal action, seemingly against Current Revolt as well as Grace, for what he characterized as “lying and defaming me.”

From Salon

They knowingly and maliciously defamed, and they should be held to a higher level of ethical and journalistic standards.

From Salon

Related Words

• besmirch 
• denigrate 
• discredit 
• disgrace 
• disparage 
• malign 
• scandalize 
• smear 
• vilify