defame

UK: /dɪˈfeɪm/ US: /dɪˈfeɪm/ ,(di fām′)

Inflections of 'defame' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

defames

v 3rd person singular

defaming

v pres p

defamed

v past

defamed

v past p

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

de•fame /dɪˈfeɪm/   v. [ ~ + obj], -famed, -fam•ing. 

1. to attack the good name or reputation of;
   slander or libel:
   The candidates seem to enjoy defaming each other.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•fame  (di fām′), v.t., -famed, -fam•ing. 

1. to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious;
   slander or libel;
   calumniate:
   The newspaper editorial defamed the politician.
2. [Archaic.] to disgrace;
   bring dishonor upon.
3. [Archaic.] to accuse.

• Medieval Latin, Latin, as above
• Anglo-French, Old French diffamer)
• Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, by-form of Medieval Latin, Latin diffāmāre (dē- de- for dif-; compare Latin dēfāmātus infamous) to spread the news of, slander, equivalent. to dif- dif- + -fāmāre verb, verbal derivative of fāma news, rumor, slander (see fame); replacing Middle English diffamen (
• Anglo-French defamer)
• Middle English defamen (1275–1325

de•fam′er, n. 
de•fam′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. malign, disparage, discredit, vilify, derogate, revile, denigrate, backbite.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

defame / dɪˈfeɪm/ verb (transitive)

1. to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French defamer, from Latin dēfāmāre, from diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from fāma fame