n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Anglo-French esclandre, alteration of escandle, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense ― more at SCANDAL
Date: 14th century
1 : the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation
2 : a false and defamatory oral statement about a person ― compare LIBEL
– slan · der · ous \ -d( ə -)r ə s \ adjective
– slan · der · ous · ly adverb
– slan · der · ous · ness noun