libel

This term specifically refers to written or published defamation, distinguishing it from slander, which involves spoken words. It carries a heavy legal weight and is typically used in the context of lawsuits, journalism, and formal accusations of character assassination.

As a noun, it describes the act or the specific statement that causes harm. When used as a verb, it describes the active process of damaging a reputation through publication. The word implies a level of permanence and wider reach than oral falsehoods, as the evidence is physically recorded.