l]
noun, verb, -beled, -bel⋅ing or (especially British
) -belled, -bel⋅ling.| 1. | Law.
|
| 2. | anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents. |
| 3. | to publish a libel against. |
| 4. | to misrepresent damagingly. |
| 5. | to institute suit against by a libel, as in an admiralty court. |

A written, printed, or pictorial statement that unjustly defames someone publicly. Prosecution of libel as a punishable offense puts some measure of restriction on freedom of the press under the First Amendment.