1. defamation: a false and malicious published statement that damages somebody's reputation. Libel can include pictures and any other representations that have public or permanent form.
2. attacking of somebody's reputation: the making of false and damaging statements about somebody
3. written statement: the plaintiff's written statement in a case under admiralty law or in an ecclesiastical court
transitive verb (past and past participleli·beled, present participleli·bel·ing, 3rd person present singularli·bels)
Definition:
1. defame somebody: to publish false and malicious statements about somebody that damage his or her reputation
2. attack somebody verbally: to give a false and damaging account of somebody
3. sue somebody for libel: to bring a suit for libel against somebody under admiralty law or in an ecclesiastical court
[14th century. Via French< Latin libellus "little book" < liber "book"]
