Defame Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/dəˈfeɪm/

Verb

To speak or write something that is damaging to someone’s reputation or character.

The politician’s rival tried to defame him by spreading false rumors.
The blogger’s comments were defamatory and caused harm to the company’s reputation.

The word “defame” comes from the Latin “defamare,” meaning “to bring harm” or “to ruin.”

Defame is typically used in the context of spoken or written statements that are intended to harm someone’s reputation.

In literature, the concept of defamation is often explored in works such as George Orwell’s “1984” and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

Slander, libel, and harassment are all related to the concept of defaming someone.

Defame is often used in combination with words like “false,” “malicious,” and “reckless” to emphasize the harmful nature of the statement.

The word “defame” is relatively rare in everyday conversation, but it is often used in legal and journalistic contexts.

Some common misspellings of the word “defame” include “defamee,” “defamme,” and “defameed.”