Kansas Funeral Director Practice Exam

Defamation of character by spoken words or gestures is known as what?

1. Libel

2. Slander

3. Defamation

4. Tort

The correct answer is: Slander

Defamation of character through spoken words or gestures is known as slander. Slander specifically refers to defamatory statements that are made verbally, as opposed to libel, which involves written or published defamatory statements. In the context of legal terminology, the distinction between slander and libel is significant because the medium through which the defamatory remarks are made affects the way the case might be approached in court. Defamation is a broader term encompassing any false statement that harms someone’s reputation, whether spoken (slander), written (libel), or implied through actions. Tort refers to a category of civil wrongs, which includes defamation but is not specific to it. Thus, within the framework of defamation law, slander correctly identifies the nature of the act involving verbal communication.