libelous

American  

[lahy-buh-luhs] / ˈlaɪ bə ləs /

especially British, libellous

adjective

1. containing, constituting, or involving a libel; maliciously defamatory.

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Other Word Forms

• libelously adverb
• nonlibelous adjective
• nonlibelously adverb
• unlibellous adjective
• unlibellously adverb
• unlibelous adjective
• unlibelously adverb

Etymology

Origin of libelous

First recorded in 1610–20; libel + -ous

Example Sentences

After replacing the original judge and disqualifying Zenger’s counsel, the crown lost its case when a jury acquitted Zenger, even though under existing law the paper’s writings were libelous.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

The lawsuit alleges the principal and the district violated the California Education Code, which provides strong protections for student journalism and free speech with few exceptions, such as content that is obscene, libelous or slanderous.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2024

"These are libelous allegations drafted by an individual with no lawyer, because no lawyer would associate themselves with this nonsense," Giuliani's attorney, Robert Costello, said at the time.

From Salon • May 16, 2023

The company has denied that the article was libelous, Reuters reported.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2022

While intended as a libelous description, Adams’s choice of words was literally correct.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis