/def'euh may"sheuhn/ , n.
the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny: She sued the magazine for defamation of character.
[ 1275-1325; ME; r. (by analogy with DEFAME) ME diffamacioun diffamation- (s. of diffamatio ), equiv. to L diffamat ( us ) (ptp. of diffamare; see DEFAME) + -ion- -ION ]