libel1 nounlibel2 verb
libelli‧bel1 /ˈlaɪbəl/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
WORD ORIGINlibel1
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin libellus, from liber; ➔ LIBRARYEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a libel suit
- Holt sued the newspaper for libel.
- He was vindicated when he successfully sued the tabloid that broke the story for libel.
- That's where the libel comes in.
THESAURUS
noun [countable] something you say or write that you know is untrue: · Would you tell lies to protect a friend?· The allegation is a complete lie.
noun [countable] informal a lie that you tell to avoid upsetting someone: · We all tell white lies sometimes.
noun [countable] informal a lie, especially about something that is not very important – used especially by children: · Have you been telling fibs?
noun [countable usually plural] British English informal a lie – a very informal use: · He’s been telling porkies again.
noun [countable] formal a statement that is not true, especially one that is intended to give people the wrong idea about someone or something: · He described the allegations as malicious falsehoods.
noun [countable] formal a lie – used especially when you want to avoid saying the word lie: · Some workers go off and tell untruths about the organisations for which they are working.
noun [countable, uncountable] formal a story or claim that someone has invented in order to deceive someone, or the act of doing this: · The claim was described as a fabrication by the police prosecutor.· He dismissed the charges as pure fabrication.
noun [uncountable] law the crime of writing lies that could make people have a bad opinion of someone, especially in a newspaper or magazine: · She sued the newspaper for libel.· libel laws
noun [countable, uncountable] law the crime of speaking lies that could make people have a bad opinion of someone, or an untrue statement which does this: · He’s threatening to sue them for slander.· a slander on the good name of the company· Linking his name to terrorism was a slander.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Holt sued the newspaper for libel. restrictions on press freedom, such as libel lawsCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Miss James could not afford to sue for libel. She was suing doctors for negligence over the loss of her child.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
when someone writes or prints untrue statements about someone so that other people could have a bad opinion of themfor libel Holt sued the newspaper for libel. (=a court case against someone for libel)
restrictions on press freedom, such as libel laws (=taken against someone who has written or printed untrue statements about you)· Judge Johan Kreigler dismissed a libel action brought against two newspapers.
(=against someone who has written a bad statement about someone else)· damages awarded by juries in libel cases
· The actress is unhappy about the magazine article and has consulted a libel lawyer.
Miss James could not afford to sue for libel. She was suing doctors for negligence over the loss of her child.· Then in an appropriate case the public authority may be able to secure the institution of a prosecution for criminal libel.· The purpose of criminal libel was to prevent loss of confidence in Government.
· The bishops were sent to the Tower on the grounds that their petition was seditious libel.
NOUN· His success in the fraudulent libel action against the Star newspaper undoubtedly frightened off a lot of the media.· Damages Damages in libel actions are difficult to predict.· It followed a failed libel action by journalist Jani Allan over a programme revealing their affair.· The 36-year-old blonde beauty was unable to hide her bitter disappointment at failing to win her libel action against the People.· And the libel action, if it comes to trial, will give us valuable national publicity if properly handled.· It is obvious that the punishing cost of libel actions prevents Francis from making direct accusations against current athletes.
· The Mona Bauwens libel case jury.· But they say legal aid should be available for proceedings under their Protection of Privacy Bill as well in libel cases.· The historian David Irving has applied for permission to appeal against a libel case judgment that branded him a Holocaust denier.· Recent high awards of damages in libel cases have led the Court of Appeal to a greater willingness to interfere.· Punitive damages in libel cases are a legal anomaly.
· Read in studio Count Nikolai Tolstoy has failed in his attempt to avoid paying libel damages.· The public's dislike of unprincipled press behaviour has sometimes been expressed in the award of erratically large libel damages.· Two and a half years ago, he faced having to pay record libel damages of one and a half million pounds.· Newspapers pay libel damages to footballer and two actors.
· For all its dangers, there are three features of the present libel law which protect careless or incompetent journalists.· The ruling's brought more calls for changes to the libel laws.· The ad has been subsequently withdrawn from a number of magazines because of the fear of possible legal action under libel laws.· Truth, however tawdry or trivial, may be told without let or hindrance from libel laws.· But there is no doubt that libel law does in other respects impinge upon the justifiable freedom of the press.
· We will defend vigorously the libel proceedings commenced us by Virgin and its owner and any other proceedings they choose to commence.· This court is in no way prejudging any defence of justification which may hereafter be raised in those libel proceedings.
· It led to a libel suit against the Times for hinting at his involvement in laundering drug money.· Insults and libel suits were exchanged.
· A libel trial is in large parts intensely soporific, if you are not on the receiving end.· There are several unusual things about this libel trial.
· Self-knowledge, after all, comes cheaper than libel writs.· Accordingly the House rejected the committee's recommendations and ruled that the issuing of the libel writ was not a contempt.· His indignation frequently boiled over to a point where he thought and demanded that a libel writ should be issued.· The familiar Maxwell reach for a libel writ brought about an immediate public apology.· You needed to tone down the quotes at times to avert a libel writ.· He issued a libel writ after John Patten's comments at a Tory party fringe meeting.
Holt sued the newspaper for libel.a libel action/case/trial (=a court case against someone for libel) restrictions on press freedom, such as libel lawslibel1 nounlibel2 verb
libellibel2 verb (past tense and past participle libelled, present participle libelling British English, libeled, libeling American English) [transitive] VERB TABLE
libel
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | libel |
| he, she, it | libels | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | libelled (BrE), libeled (AmE) |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have libelled (BrE), libeled (AmE) |
| he, she, it | has libelled (BrE), libeled (AmE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had libelled (BrE), libeled (AmE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will libel |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have libelled (BrE), libeled (AmE) |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
| he, she, it | is libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) | |
| you, we, they | are libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
| you, we, they | were libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
| he, she, it | has been libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been libelling (BrE), libeling (AmE) |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Kandell contends he was libeled by the Journal.
- He did not look like anyone she had libelled lately.
- It libelled the plaintiff who issued a writ against the editor.
- Those who were libelled in the Fanzine may feel less aggrieved knowing it was for a good cause.
WORD SETS
abet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Miss James could not afford to sue for libel. She was suing doctors for negligence over the loss of her child.
to write or print a libel against someone (=taken against someone who has written or printed untrue statements about you)· Judge Johan Kreigler dismissed a libel action brought against two newspapers.
(=against someone who has written a bad statement about someone else)· damages awarded by juries in libel cases
· The actress is unhappy about the magazine article and has consulted a libel lawyer.
Miss James could not afford to sue for libel. She was suing doctors for negligence over the loss of her child.