What is slander?

• A. Verbal defamation
• B. Written defamation
• C. Defamation by satire
• D. False statements under oath

Answer: (A)

Slander is verbal defamation: false statements spoken about someone that harm their reputation. The key idea is that slander refers to spoken, not written, statements. If the false statements are written, that’s called libel. Defamation by satire isn’t the standard term for this category, since satire is a form of expression and only sometimes rises to defamation if it presents false factual claims as truth. False statements under oath describe perjury, which is a crime separate from defaming someone.