calumny

UK: /ˈkæləmnɪ/ US: /ˈkæləmni/ ,(kal′əm nē)

Inflections of 'calumny' (n): npl: calumnies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cal•um•ny /ˈkæləmni/   n., pl. -nies. 

1. a lie designed to injure a reputation:
   [countable] She was spreading calumnies about her opponent.
2. the practice of making lying, hurtful statements:
   [uncountable] She was the target of vicious calumny.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cal•um•ny  (kal′əm nē), n., pl. -nies. 

1. a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something:
   The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.
2. the act of uttering calumnies;
   slander;
   defamation.

• Latin calumnia, equivalent. to calumn-, perh. origin, originally a middle participle of calvī to deceive + -ia -y³)
• late Middle English 1400–50

Synonyms

• 2. libel, vilification, calumniation, derogation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

calumny / ˈkæləmnɪ/ noun ( -nies)

1. the malicious utterance of false charges or misrepresentation; slander; defamation
2. such a false charge or misrepresentation

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin calumnia deception, slander