What does Libel mean?

Definitions for Libel
ˈlaɪ bəlli·bel

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Libel.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. libelnoun

    a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person

  2. libelverb

    the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks

  3. libelverb

    print slanderous statements against

    "The newspaper was accused of libeling him"

Wiktionary

  1. libelnoun

    A written (notably as handbill) or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.

  2. libelnoun

    The act or crime of displaying such a statement publicly.

  3. libelverb

    To defame someone, especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.

    He libelled her when he published that.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. LIBELnoun

    Etymology: libellus, Latin; libelle, French.

    Are we reproached for the name of Christ? that ignominy serves but to advance our future glory; every such libel here becomes panegyrick there. Decay of Piety.

    Good heav’n! that sots and knaves should be so vain,
    To wish their vile resemblance may remain!
    And stand recorded, at their own request,
    To future days, a libel or a jest. Dryden.

  2. To Libelverb

    To satirise; to lampoon;

    Is then the peerage of England any thing dishonoured when a peer suffers for his treason? if he be libelled, or any way defamed, he has his scandalum magnatum to punish the offender. Dryden.

    But what so pure which envious tongues will spare?
    Some wicked wits have libelled all the fair. Alexander Pope.

  3. To Libelverb

    To spread defamation; generally written or printed.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    Sweet scrauls to fly about the streets of Rome:
    What’s this but libelling against the senate? William Shakespeare.

    He, like a privileg’d spy, whom nothing can
    Discredit, libels now ’gainst each great man. John Donne.

Wikipedia

  1. libel

    Defamation is the communication of a false statement about another that injures their reputation and usually constitutes a tort. Additionally, in some jurisdictions, defamation is also treated as a crime.Defamation laws can encompass a variety of acts: Insult against a legal person (e.g. natural person, business entity) in general. Defamation (slander/libel) against a legal person (e.g. natural person, business entity) in general. Acts against public officials. Acts against state institutions (e.g. government, ministries, government agencies, armed forces). Acts against state symbols (national and/or foreign). Acts against the state itself (national and/or foreign). Acts against heads of state (national and/or foreign). Acts against religions (blasphemy). Acts against the judiciary or legislature (e.g. contempt of court). The right of individuals to the protection of their reputation, honour, and privacy comes into tension with freedom of speech, with different jurisdictions balancing the two rights differently depending on the extent to which each of the two rights is valued by the local culture and legal tradition. Jurisdictions resolve the tension between these two rights in a variety of ways including by determining whether the plaintiff must prove defamatory intent or whether intent is presumed unless the defendant proves otherwise, delimiting the extent to which the truth of a defamatory statement serves as a valid legal defence, and by deciding the scope of exceptions for commentary on issues of public importance. Strict or plaintiff-friendly defamation laws may serve to deter on publishers fearful of lawsuits from publishing potentially defamatory statements, which proponents of defamation law see as dissuading individuals from violating others' rights to privacy and protection of reputation and advocates of free speech see as having a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of speech. The power of the internet to disseminate comments, which may include malicious content, has served to stir renewed debate over the first few decades of the twenty first century as to the efficacy, desirability, and extraterritorial application of defamation law.

ChatGPT

  1. libel

    Libel is a published or written statement or representation that unjustly harms someone's reputation by conveying a false or damaging claim about them. It is considered a legal offense and may fall under civil or criminal law, depending on the jurisdiction.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Libelnoun

    a brief writing of any kind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc

  2. Libelnoun

    any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire

  3. Libelnoun

    a malicious publication expressed either in print or in writing, or by pictures, effigies, or other signs, tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law

  4. Libelnoun

    the crime of issuing a malicious defamatory publication

  5. Libelnoun

    a written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks

  6. Libelverb

    to defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon

  7. Libelverb

    to proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a ship or goods

  8. Libelverb

    to spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against

  9. Etymology: [L. libellus a little book, pamphlet, libel, lampoon, dim. of liber the liber or inner bark of a tree; also (because the ancients wrote on this bark), paper, parchment, or a roll of any material used to write upon, and hence, a book or treatise: cf. F. libelle.]

Wikidata

  1. Libel

    Libel is a 1959 British drama film. It stars Olivia de Havilland, Dirk Bogarde, Paul Massie, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Robert Morley. The film's screenplay was written by Anatole de Grunwald and Karl Tunberg from a 1935 play of the same name by Edward Wooll, and it was directed by Anthony Asquith. The Broadway play, which had starred Colin Clive, was adapted for radio in 1941 using the original references to World War I. Ronald Colman played the leading role in the Jan. 13, 1941, CBS network Lux Radio Theater broadcast, with Otto Kruger and Frances Robinson. The role of an amnesiac World War I veteran had similarities to Colman's 1942 hit Random Harvest. A 1938 BBC television production, featured actor Wyndham Goldie, husband of eventual BBC television producer Grace Wyndham Goldie.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Libel

    lī′bel, n. a written accusation: any malicious defamatory publication or statement: (law) the statement of a plaintiff's grounds of complaint against a defendant.—v.t. to defame by a libel: to satirise unfairly: (law) to proceed against by producing a written complaint:—pr.p. lī′belling; pa.t. and pa.p. lī′belled.ns. Lī′bellant, one who brings a libel; Lī′beller; Lī′belling, defaming.—adj. Lī′bellous, containing a libel: defamatory.—adv. Lī′bellously. [L. libellus, dim. of liber, a book.]

Suggested Resources

  1. Libel

    Libel vs. Slander -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Libel and Slander.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. LIBEL

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Libel is ranked #118185 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Libel surname appeared 147 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Libel.

    91.1% or 134 total occurrences were White.
    5.4% or 8 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    3.4% or 5 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

How to pronounce Libel?

How to say Libel in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Libel in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Libel in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Libel in a Sentence

  1. J. William Fulbright:

    When public men indulge themselves in abuse, when they deny others a fair trial, when they resort to innuendo and insinuation, to libel, scandal, and suspicion, then our democratic society is outraged, and democracy is baffled. It has no apparatus to deal with the boor, the liar, the lout, and the antidemocrat in general.

  2. Ted Cruz:

    Much the same as the First Amendment does not allow anyone to slander or libel anyone, it also does not allow someone to ignore the federal criminal laws.

  3. Lyrissa Lidsky:

    While there is more leeway and more hyperbole online and in social media in general, courts never really accepted that argument that social media is a libel free-zone.

  4. Gustave Flaubert:

    Our ignorance of history makes us libel our own times. People have always been like this.

  5. Lynda Sheridan:

    As far as the strength of Terrill's lawsuit against Gawker, the action of libel, appears to be pled more factually specific, however, the remaining two causes of action -- Breach of Confidence and Intentional Interference with Prospective Economic Advantage -- appear more challenging.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Libel#10000#28564#100000

Translations for Libel

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • pomluva, hanopis, pomluvitCzech
  • bagvaske, bagtaleDanish
  • Verleumdung, verleumdenGerman
  • difamaciónSpanish
  • häväistyskirjoitus, kunnia, kunnianloukkaus, loukataFinnish
  • libelleFrench
  • परिवादHindi
  • rágalmazHungarian
  • עֲלִילָהHebrew
  • 名誉毀損Japanese
  • наклевети, клеветиMacedonian
  • defăimaRomanian
  • клевета́, диффамация, исковое заявление, оклеветать, позорить, дискредитировать, пасквиль, клеветать, опозорить, клевета́ть, диффама́ция, жалобаRussian
  • ärekränka, förtala, förtal, smutskasta, smädeskrift, ärekränkningSwedish
  • hakaret etmek, karalamak, iftira etmekTurkish
  • sự phỉ bángVietnamese

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"Libel." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Libel>.

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