Definition of: libel

(lī′bəl) noun
1. Anything tending to degrade or asperse character or reputation.
2. Law Slander written and published; the act or crime of publishing it; also, a false publication damaging to property or business.
3. Law The written allegation of the plaintiff in a suit before a court of admiralty or an ecclesiastical court.
4. Any publicly circulated slanderous document.
—v.t. ·beled or ·belled, ·bel·ing or ·bel·ling
1. To publish a libel concerning; defame.
2. In admiralty law, to bring suit against, as a ship or cargo. See synonyms under ASPERSE. [<OF <L libellus, dim. of liber book]
—li′bel·er or li′bel·ler, li′bel·ist or li′bel·list noun