term:

Defamation

defamation n

1 : communication to third parties of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person see also libel, slander New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in the Important Cases section compare disparagement, false light, slander of title
2 : a defamatory communication [every repetition of the is a publication "W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton"]

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.