When you defame someone, you spread false information that damages their reputation. The word describes making untrue statements that harm how others see a person, causing people to lose respect for them or think less of them.

If someone spreads a rumor that a classmate cheated on a test when they actually didn't, that's defamation. If a newspaper publishes a false story claiming a business owner stole money, that defames the owner. The key elements are that the statement must be false and must cause actual harm to someone's good name.

Defamation takes two main forms: libel is defamation in writing or published form, while slander is spoken defamation. A false accusation posted online would be libel. A lie told out loud to a group would be slander.

Criticism, even harsh criticism, isn't defamation if it's based on facts or honest opinion. Saying “I think this restaurant has terrible food” is protected opinion. Falsely claiming “This restaurant puts rat poison in the soup” would be defamation.