What is slander?

What is slander?

• A. A spoken untruth or lie
• B. A written statement of fact
• C. A financial accusation
• D. A political speech

Answer: (A)

Slander refers specifically to the act of making a false spoken statement that damages another person's reputation. This definition underscores the element of speech; slander applies to oral communications rather than written ones. In contrast, a written untruth would be classified as libel, which is a related but distinct legal concept. Thus, the correct choice captures the essence of slander as a spoken untruth, establishing a clear distinction between different types of defamation. The other options do not relate directly to the definition of slander, as they involve written statements, financial matters, or general political discourse—none of which pertain to the spoken nature of slanderous remarks.

Slander refers specifically to the act of making a false spoken statement that damages another person's reputation. This definition underscores the element of speech; slander applies to oral communications rather than written ones. In contrast, a written untruth would be classified as libel, which is a related but distinct legal concept. Thus, the correct choice captures the essence of slander as a spoken untruth, establishing a clear distinction between different types of defamation. The other options do not relate directly to the definition of slander, as they involve written statements, financial matters, or general political discourse—none of which pertain to the spoken nature of slanderous remarks.