English Dictionary

Definition of “libel”

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libel (ˈlaɪbəllPronunciation for libel) 

Definitions

noun

  1. law 
    1. the publication of defamatory matter in permanent form, as by a written or printed statement, picture, etc
    2. the act of publishing such matter
  2. any defamatory or unflattering representation or statement
  3. ecclesiastical law a claimant's written statement of claim
  4. Scots law the formal statement of a charge

verb

(tr)
  1. law to make or publish a defamatory statement or representation about (a person)
  2. to misrepresent injuriously
  3. ecclesiastical law to bring an action against (a person) in the ecclesiastical courts

Alternative Forms

ˈlibeller ˈlibelist noun ˈlibellous ˈlibelous adjective

Word Origin

C13 (in the sense: written statement), hence C14 legal sense: a plaintiff's statement, via Old French from Latin libellus  a little book, from liber a book

Usage examples

  • We're not talking about any crime here, so you gotta look out for the libel laws.
    West, Charles, Stage Fright (1993)
  • In libel cases,'in deciding what words mean for the purpose of defamation, the intention of the writer or speaker is largely irrelevant.
    Spiked (2002)
  • Our libel laws are merely the journalistic thread I'm pulling at to unravel this particular garment.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • George Galloway's long-awaited High Court libel action against The Daily Telegraph is due to start.
    Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2004)
  • The batch of letters produced during the O'Donnell v. Walter libel case he had also forged.
    Christy Campbell, FENIAN FIRE: The British Government Plot to Assassinate Queen Victoria (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'L'

Related Terms

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