defame

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /dɪˈfeɪm/

Verb

defame (defames, present participle defaming; past and past participle defamed)

1. To disgrace; to bring into disrepute. [from 4th c.]

   • My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; / My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.

2. (now, chiefly, historical) To charge; to accuse (someone) of an offence. [from 14th c.]

   Rebecca is […] defamed of sorcery practised on the person of a noble knight.

3. To harm or diminish the reputation of; to disparage. [from 4th c.]

   to defame somebody

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:defame

Related terms

• defamatory
• defamation

Translations

• French: diffamer
• German: diffamieren
• Portuguese: difamar
• Russian: поро́чить
• Spanish: difamar, arruinar la reputación

Translations

• German: diffamieren
• Portuguese: difamar
• Russian: клевета́ть
• Spanish: difamar

Noun

defame

1. (now, rare, archaic) Disgrace, dishonour. [from 14th c.]
   • 1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, I.1:

     And all the sparks that may bring unto flame / Hate betwixt man and wife, or breed defame.

2. (now, rare or nonstandard) Defamation; slander, libel. [from 15th c.]

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