What is defamation?

Defamation refers to the act of making false statements about an individual that can harm that person's reputation. This legal concept includes both spoken statements, known as slander, and written statements, known as libel. For a statement to be considered defamation, it must be false and presented as a fact, rather than an opinion. Additionally, the statement must have the potential to cause actual harm to the individual’s reputation in their community or profession.

The other options do not accurately define defamation. Making a true statement about a person doesn't constitute defamation, as truth is a defense against defamation claims. Exposing personal information without consent, while a violation of privacy, does not necessarily involve false statements about a person's character or reputation. Inventing a rumor about someone might lead to harm if the rumor is shared publicly, but defamation specifically focuses on false statements presented as facts that damage someone's reputation. Thus, the key element of defamation is the impact of the falsehood on an individual's good name.