defamation

noun

the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny: She sued the magazine for defamation of character.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English; replacing (by analogy with defame) Middle English diffamacioun < Medieval Latin diffāmātiōn- (stem of diffāmātiō), equivalent to Latin diffāmāt(us) (past participle of diffāmāre; see defame) + -iōn- -ion

Can be confused: defamation, liable, libel, slander (see usage note at liable).

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Defamation is a GRE word you need to know.

So is deprave. Does it mean:

loss, damage, disadvantage, or injury.

to make morally bad or evil; vitiate; corrupt.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

defamation (ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən)

—n
1.	law libel Compare slander the injuring of a person's good name or reputation
2.	the act of defaming or state of being defamed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

defamation

c.1300, from O.Fr. diffamation, from L. diffamationem, noun of action from diffamare (see defame).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences

He published the report without knowledge of the defamation case, he said.

This is libel, slander, defamation of character.

In an action for defamation per quod, the plaintiff must demonstrate special

damages.

Settling contempt-of-court actions and defamation suits from leading

politicians is costly.