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   Li·bel

   /ˈlīb(ə)l/

   

   noun

   • 1. a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.
   • ▪ the action or crime of publishing a false statement about a person: "a libel action"
   • ▪ a false and typically malicious statement about a person.
   • ▪ a thing or circumstance that brings undeserved discredit on a person by misrepresentation.
   • 2. (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff's written declaration.

   verb

   • 1. defame (someone) by publishing a libel: "she alleged the magazine had libeled her"
   • ▪ make a false and typically malicious statement about.
   • 2. (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against: "if a ship does you any injury you libel the ship"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the general sense ‘a document, a written statement’): via Old French from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber ‘book’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. libeler noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • B

     3

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

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