- Today's Word
Defamatory
[dih-FAM-uh-tor-ee]
Definition
- (adjective) Containing false statements or claims that damage the reputation of a person, group, or organization. As an adjective, it describes communication that unjustly tarnishes someone’s character or standing in society.
Example
The newspaper was sued for publishing defamatory statements about the local politician without verifying their accuracy.
Fun Fact
The word “defamatory” traces its roots back to Medieval Latin “defamatorius,” stemming from the verb “defamare,” which literally means “to take away one’s good name.” In medieval Europe, defamation cases were initially handled by church courts, as reputation was considered a matter of soul and honor. By the 16th century, cases moved to common law courts, leading to the development of modern defamation laws. The distinction between written defamation (libel) and spoken defamation (slander) emerged during this period.
(verb) To block, close off, or obstruct something so it cannot pass through.
During the storm, fallen branches occluded the narrow trail, making it impossible to pass.
Occlude comes from the Latin occludere, meaning “to shut up” or “to close off.” The root is formed from ob- (“toward”) and claudere (“to close”), giving the sense of something being sealed or blocked firmly and completely.