Libel vs. Slander
Have you ever heard someone threaten to sue for libel or slander? Both of these terms have a negative connotation, or a negative feeling associated with them, but what do they mean? There meanings are similar, but slightly different. Let's take a closer look at the difference between libel and slander.
Libel is a written statement that is untrue, and it is a type of defamation. Defamation is the action of damaging someone's reputation. So, libel is a written statement that is false and damages someone's reputation.
1. The preacher accused the reporter for libel when the reporter wrote that the preacher was having an affair.
2. The NFL player said the statement on the rival team's Facebook page claiming that he took steroids was libel.
3. The libel case was won by the teacher, who sued the newspaper for writing she was driving under the influence when she was not.
Slander is also a type of defamation. It is an oral statement that is false and that damages someone's reputation.
1. As a news reporter, you should make sure you have your facts straight, or someone may accuse you of slander.
2. The candidate's wife sued her husband's opponent for slander when he said she had mental problems in one of his speeches.
3. The mayor and the police chief have both accused each other of slander over statements that were made when one million dollars of the county's money went missing.
As you can see, libel and slander are similar. Both are defamatory statements that are untrue and damaging to someone's reputation. However, libel is written and slander is spoken. You can remember that slander is the spoken form because "slander" and "spoken" both begin with "s."
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