Defamation
Defamation , noun
[Old English diffamacioun, French diffamation. See Defame.]
Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander.