Which of the following is a definition of defamation?

Which of the following is a definition of defamation?

• A. To expose a person to admiration
• B. To cause a person to be celebrated
• C. To lower a person in the eyes of right-thinking people
• D. To lift a person in the eyes of the community

Answer: (C)

Defamation is defined as making statements about a person that can harm their reputation by lowering them in the eyes of the community or right-thinking individuals. This definition aligns with the principle that defamation occurs when false information is presented as fact, causing damage to an individual’s standing or character in the public sphere. The correct answer emphasizes the adverse effect on reputation, which is the crux of defamation law. Statements that are defamatory not only misrepresent an individual but do so to the extent that they can affect how others view them, leading to social, professional, or personal detriment. This concept is central in understanding how defamation claims work within media law, as it highlights the balance between free speech and protecting individuals from false and damaging assertions. The other options suggest positive outcomes rather than the harmful implications of defamation, which is why they do not fit the definition. For example, exposing someone to admiration or causing someone to be celebrated contradicts the essence of defamation by implying a positive enhancement of a person’s reputation rather than a detriment.

Defamation is defined as making statements about a person that can harm their reputation by lowering them in the eyes of the community or right-thinking individuals. This definition aligns with the principle that defamation occurs when false information is presented as fact, causing damage to an individual’s standing or character in the public sphere.

The correct answer emphasizes the adverse effect on reputation, which is the crux of defamation law. Statements that are defamatory not only misrepresent an individual but do so to the extent that they can affect how others view them, leading to social, professional, or personal detriment. This concept is central in understanding how defamation claims work within media law, as it highlights the balance between free speech and protecting individuals from false and damaging assertions.

The other options suggest positive outcomes rather than the harmful implications of defamation, which is why they do not fit the definition. For example, exposing someone to admiration or causing someone to be celebrated contradicts the essence of defamation by implying a positive enhancement of a person’s reputation rather than a detriment.