slanderous

UK: /ˈslɑːndərəs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

slan•der /ˈslændɚ/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the act of knowingly making a false statement about someone to ruin his or her reputation;
   defamation.
2. [countable] such a wrong or false statement or report.

v. [~ + object]

3. to make a knowingly false statement about (someone) to ruin his or her reputation:
   He accused the newspaper of slandering him.

slan•der•er, n. [countable]
slan•der•ous, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

slan•der  (slan′dər), n. 

1. defamation;
   calumny:
   rumors full of slander.
2. a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report:
   a slander against his good name.
3. Law defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.

v.t. 

4. to utter slander against;
   defame.

v.i. 

5. to utter or circulate slander.

• Old French esclandrer, derivative of esclandre
• Late Latin scandalum cause of offense, snare (see scandal); (verb, verbal) Middle English s(c)laundren to cause to lapse morally, bring to disgrace, discredit, defame
• Anglo-French esclaundre, Old French esclandre, alteration of escandle
• (noun, nominal) Middle English s(c)laundre 1250–1300

slan′der•er, n. 
slan′der•ing•ly, adv. 
slan′der•ous, adj. 
slan′der•ous•ly, adv. 
slan′der•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 4. malign, vilify, revile.