slander

law

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July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Slander is a form of defamation, which involves making untrue statements presented as fact to damage a person's character or reputation. Specifically, slander is a defamatory statement that is spoken. For a statement to be considered slander, it must be made with the knowledge that it is false or with reckless disregard for the truth. This means the speaker did not adequately verify the truthfulness of the statement.12

Statements that can be considered slanderous include false claims that a person committed a serious crime, has a particular illness, or is incompetent in their job. Opinions, such as "Bill is a jerk," are not considered defamatory because they cannot be proven true or false. However, stating "Bill embezzles money from work" could be considered slander if it implies a false fact that harms Bill's reputation.1

Unlike libel, which is defamation in writing, slander is spoken. While many people use the terms interchangeably, the distinction is important in legal contexts.13

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defamation
Libel and slander are the legal subcategories of defamation. Generally speaking, libel is defamation in written words, pictures, or any other visual symbols in a print or electronic medium. Slander is spoken defamation. The advent of early broadcast communications (radio and television) in the 20th century complicated…
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Libel and slander are the legal subcategories of defamation. Generally speaking, libel is defamation in written words, pictures, or any other visual symbols in a print or electronic medium. Slander is spoken defamation. The advent of early broadcast communications (radio and television) in the 20th century complicated…
Read More

tort
Protection of honour, reputation, and privacy
…old distinction between libel and slander (defamatory matter in permanent and in transient form, respectively) is preserved; the plaintiff is not entitled to legal aid (with the practical consequence that only wealthy people can afford to sue); the action can succeed without any proof of special damage (giving an unwarranted…
Read More
…old distinction between libel and slander (defamatory matter in permanent and in transient form, respectively) is preserved; the plaintiff is not entitled to legal aid (with the practical consequence that only wealthy people can afford to sue); the action can succeed without any proof of special damage (giving an unwarranted…
Read More

What’s the Difference Between Libel and Slander?
Libel and slander are forms of defamation, which is an untrue statement presented as fact and intended to damage a person’s character or reputation. Libel is a defamatory statement made in writing, while slander is a defamatory statement that is spoken.
Read More
Libel and slander are forms of defamation, which is an untrue statement presented as fact and intended to damage a person’s character or reputation. Libel is a defamatory statement made in writing, while slander is a defamatory statement that is spoken.
Read More