Which term describes the act of damaging someone's reputation?

Defamation is the umbrella term used to describe the act of damaging someone's reputation through false statements. It encompasses both written and spoken forms of damaging information. When someone engages in defamation, they tarnish another person's character or reputation, which can lead to serious personal, professional, and legal consequences.

Libel and slander are specific forms of defamation. Libel refers to defamation in a written format, while slander pertains to spoken defamation. Malpractice, on the other hand, refers to professional negligence by a professional who fails to provide the expected standard of care, which is not directly related to damaging someone's reputation.

Understanding these distinctions is important because they highlight how reputation is affected in different contexts and the legal implications associated with each form of defamation.