Which statement best defines defamation?

• A. False statements harming someone's reputation
• B. Opinions about a public figure
• C. A rumor with no basis
• D. A truthful statement that harms someone's reputation

Answer: (A)

Defamation involves making a false statement of fact about someone that harms their reputation and is communicated to others. The key elements are falsity, the claim being presented as fact (not just an opinion), and publication to a third party that causes damage to the person’s reputation. This makes the statement about someone’s character or conduct something that others might believe and act upon, which is what defamation seeks to prevent.

That’s why the option describing false statements that harm someone’s reputation is the best fit. An opinion about a public figure is typically protected as expression rather than a factual claim. A rumor might be defamatory if it’s false and presented as fact to others, but it doesn’t by itself define defamation without those elements. A truthful statement harming someone’s reputation isn’t defamation because the truth is a defense.