1. to damage someone’s reputation by making false or harmful statements about them
Usage: formal; legal contexts

Examples

• The politician sued the newspaper for attempting to defame him with false accusations.
• She was careful not to defame her former employer during the interview.
• The article defamed the company by spreading unverified rumors about its practices.
• He claimed that the social media posts were designed to defame his character.
• The court ruled that the statements were intended to defame the plaintiff.
• Publishing those lies could defame an innocent person’s reputation.