1li·bel 
/ˈlaɪbəl/ noun
plural li·bels /ˈlaɪbəl/ noun : the act of publishing a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone [noncount] ▪ He sued the newspaper for libel. ▪ The newspaper was found guilty of libel. [count] ▪ The newspaper's attorneys argued that the article was not a libel. — compare slander
