What is it called when one makes a false or malicious statement to injure someone?

Defamation refers to the act of making a false statement about another person that injures their reputation. This legal concept encompasses both spoken statements, known as slander, and written statements, known as libel. The emphasis in the definition is on the malicious intent behind the statement and the harm it causes to the individual’s standing in the community or their personal and professional relationships.

Understanding defamation is crucial, particularly in fields related to law, communication, and media, where the impact of words and statements can have significant repercussions. This concept is vital to protecting individuals' rights and reputations against harmful misinformation. In contrast, the other terms provided relate to different concepts: a boycott involves refusing to engage with a person or business to effect change; coercion relates to forcing someone to act in a certain way through threats; and intimidation refers to causing fear in someone to influence their actions. These terms do not capture the essence of making false statements aimed at harming someone's reputation.