–noun
1. Law
.
a. defamation
by
written
or
printed
words,
pictures,
or
in
any
form
other
than
by
spoken
words
or
gestures.
b. the act or
crime
of
publishing
it.
c. a
formal
written
declaration
or
statement,
as
one
containing the allegations
of
a
plaintiff
or
the
grounds
of
a
charge.
2. anything
that
is
defamatory
or
that
maliciously
or
damagingly
misrepresents.
–verb
(used
with
object)
3. to
publish
a
libel
against.
4. to
misrepresent
damagingly.
5. to
institute
suit
against
by
a
libel,
as
in
an
admiralty
court.
