LexBrew
Usage Entry 1086 / 1350 60-second read

Libel vs. Slander

Defamation in writing versus defamation by speech.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The slander was published on the front page.

✓ Correct

The libel was published on the front page.

The ruleii

LIBEL = written. SLANDER = spoken.

LIBEL is defamation in fixed form — writing, broadcast, or print. SLANDER is spoken defamation. Both are legally actionable; the remedies differ by jurisdiction.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Libel is Literature. Slander is Speech.

You might also like 7 related
↑↓Navigate Open EscClose All results →