Defamation

n. slander, libel, calumny

For "liable", see Liability. In law, defamation is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may harm the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government or nation. Most jurisdictions allow legal actions, civil and/or criminal, to deter various kinds of defamation and retaliate against criticism.
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Noun
1. a malicious attack
(synonym) calumny, obloquy, traducement, hatchet job
(hypernym) disparagement, depreciation, derogation
(hyponym) character assassination, assassination, blackwash
(derivation) defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch
2. an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
(synonym) aspersion, calumny, slander, denigration
(hypernym) attack
(derivation) defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch

(n.)
Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
  

An attack on the good reputation of a person, by slander or libel. - (read more on Defamation)