Libel
“Libel” 既可以作名词也可以作动词。作为名词，它指以书面、图像或其他永久性形式发布的虚假陈述，旨在损害他人的名誉。作为动词，它指通过上述方式进行诽谤。它与 “slander”（口头诽谤）相对。
- “The actress sued the newspaper for libel after they published a false story about her.” (在那家报纸发表了关于她的虚假报道后，这位女演员起诉该报诽谤。)
- “It is difficult to prove libel in court, especially when it involves public figures.” (在法庭上证明诽谤很难，尤其是涉及公众人物时。)
- “The writer was careful not to libel anyone in his controversial biography.” (作者在他那部备受争议的传记中小心翼翼，不去诽谤任何人。)
源自拉丁语 “libellus”，意为“小书、小册子、请愿书”。是 “liber” (书) 的指小词。在法律史上，诽谤通常通过散发此类小册子来进行。
无前缀和后缀。
在新闻学和法律界，“libel” 是一个极其敏感的词。西方法律（尤其是英国和美国）对诽谤罪有详尽的规定。新闻机构通常设有法律顾问（Libel lawyers），专门审查稿件以避免昂贵的诽谤诉讼。
- 形容词: libellous (诽谤性的)
- 对应词: slander (口头诽谤)
联想 “Library” (图书馆)。书里的文字如果乱写别人，就可能构成 “Libel”。记住它强调的是“写下来”或“印出来”的诽谤。
“A local politician thought he could destroy his rival by printing false rumors in a small pamphlet. However, he soon found himself in front of a judge, facing a massive libel suit that ruined his own political career instead.” (一位当地政客以为通过在小册子上印制虚假谣言就能击败对手。然而，他很快发现自己站在法官面前，面临一场巨额诽谤诉讼，反而毁掉了自己的政治生涯。)