de·fa·ma·tion /ˌde-fə-'mā-shən/ n
1: communication to third parties of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person see also libel, slander; new york times co. v. sullivan in the important cases section compare disparagement, false light, slander of title
2: a defamatory communication
every repetition of the defamation is a publication — W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.