defamatory

[ dih-fam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. containing defamation; injurious to reputation; slanderous or libelous:

   She claimed that the article in the magazine was defamatory.

defamatory

/ -trɪ; dɪˈfæmətərɪ /

adjective

1. injurious to someone's name or reputation

Derived Forms

• deˈfamatorily, adverb

Other Words From

• nonde·fama·tory adjective
• unde·fama·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defamatory¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin diffāmātōrius, equivalent to Latin diffāmā(re) ( defame ) + -tōrious -tory ¹

Related Words

• derogatory
• disparaging
• injurious
• insulting