detraction

pronunciation

How to pronounce detraction in British English: UK [dɪ'trækʃən]word uk audio image

How to pronounce detraction in American English: US [dɪˈtrækʃən] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a petty disparagement
    the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)

Word Origin

detraction (n.)
mid-14c., from Old French detraccion "detraction, disparagement, denigration," from Latin detractionem (nominative detractio) "a drawing off," from past participle stem of detrahere "take down, pull down, disparage," from de- "down" (see de-) + trahere "to pull" (see tract (n.1)). The fem. form detractress is attested from 1716.

Example

1. Detraction will not suffer it .
2. Envy has no other quality but that of detraction from virtue .
3. Faced with such detraction , scientists characteristically retort that science , unlike witchcraft , works .

more: >How to Use "detraction" with Example Sentences