libel
pronunciation
How to pronounce libel in British English:
UK [ˈlaɪbl]
How to pronounce libel in American English:
US [ˈlaɪbəl]
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- Noun:
- a tort consisting of false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
- the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defammation) and any relief he seeks
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- Verb:
- print slanderous statements against
Word Origin
- libel
- libel: see library
- libel (n.)
- c. 1300, "formal written statement," especially, in civil law, "plaintiff's statement of charges" (mid-14c.); from Old French libelle (fem.) "small book; (legal) charge, claim; writ; written report" (13c.), from Latin libellus "a little book, pamphlet; petition, written accusation, complaint," diminutive of liber "book" (see library). Broader sense of "any published or written statement likely to harm a person's reputation" is first attested 1630s.
- libel (v.)
- mid-15c., "make an initial statement setting out a plaintiff's case" (modern sense from 1560s), from libel (n.), q.v. for sense development. Related: Libeled; libelled; libeling; libelling.
Example
- 1. Another bill raises tenfold the ceiling for libel fines .
- 2. Anyway , neither libel nor copyright theft is a new phenomenon .
- 3. That would stop the most absurd instances of libel tourism .
- 4. One kind of foreigner loves english libel law .
- 5. The laws of libel apply to blogs too .