What is defamation?

• A. A false statement presented as fact that harms someone's reputation.
• B. A rumor that cannot be verified.
• C. A legal term for court judgments.
• D. A true statement presented as opinion.

Answer: (A)

Defamation means making a false statement about someone that is presented as fact and harms that person’s reputation, and then sharing it with others. The crucial elements are that the claim is about a real person, it’s false, it’s stated as a fact (not as a joke or opinion), and it’s communicated to someone besides the person it’s about. Truth is a defense—if the statement is true, it isn’t defamation. Opinions or rumors aren’t typically defamation because they aren’t presented as verifiable facts that damage someone’s reputation.