libel
/ˈlaɪbəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.34 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
Countable
noun
A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of their cause of action, and of the relief they seek.
Countable
noun
A brief writing of any kind, especially a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.
Countable
verb
To defame (someone), especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
Transitive verb
Example Sentences
- "These provisions of law being in force, the steamer Rio Grande, owned, as was alleged, by persons in Mexico, being in the port of Mobile, in the Southern District of Alabama, certain materialmen, on the 26th of November, 1867, filed separate libels against her in the district court for the said district."
- "a libel of forsaking [divorcement]"
- "He libelled her when he published that."
- "But vvhat ſo pure, vvhich envious tongues vvill ſpare? / Some vvicked vvits have libell'd all the fair."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *lewbʰ-, libel
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law.