Slander is the legal term for harming someone’s reputation by saying something false about them to a third party. It is a type of defamation, specifically the spoken kind. The core idea is simple: you cannot spread damaging lies about people and escape the consequences if you cause them real harm. This isn’t about hurt feelings or minor insults. To be legally considered slander, the false statement must cross a serious line and result in measurable damage to the person’s standing in their community or their livelihood.

The foundation of a slander case rests on four key pillars. First, the statement must be false. Truth is an absolute defense. No matter how damaging or embarrassing a fact is, if it is substantially true, it cannot be slander. Second, the statement must be “published,“ meaning it was communicated to at least one other person besides the subject. Telling a lie directly to someone’s face with no one else around is not slander, though it might be something else. Third, the person making the statement must have been at fault. Typically, this means they were negligent—they didn’t exercise reasonable care to check if the statement was true before spreading it. In cases involving public figures or matters of public concern, the standard is higher, often requiring proof the speaker knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Fourth, and crucially, the false statement must cause actual harm.

This requirement of harm is where slander often gets specific. The law recognizes that some false statements are so obviously damaging that harm is presumed. These are called “slander per se.“ Classic examples include falsely saying someone has committed a serious crime; that they have a loathsome, contagious disease (like a sexually transmitted infection); that they are unchaste (an old category but still recognized); or, most commonly in modern cases, making false statements that directly injure someone in their business, trade, profession, or office. For instance, telling a client that their accountant is an embezzler, or telling a restaurant owner that a chef has hepatitis, are statements so damaging that the law assumes they cause injury. In “per se” cases, the victim can often recover compensation without providing detailed proof of their financial losses.

For all other false statements, categorized as “slander per quod,“ the victim must prove specific, quantifiable harm. This is the high hurdle. You must show the lie directly led to a financial loss. Examples include losing your job, being fired from a contract, losing customers, or being shunned by a professional community with clear monetary impact. General damage to reputation without this proof of economic loss is usually not enough to win a slander case.

It is also vital to understand what is not slander. Opinions are generally protected. Saying “I think John is a bad businessman” is an opinion. Saying “John’s business is bankrupt because he stole from the register” is a verifiable fact that can be proven true or false. Statements made in certain privileged settings, like during a legislative proceeding or in a court filing, are also typically immune from slander claims to allow for free discussion. Similarly, a boss giving an honest performance review to an employee, even if critical, is usually protected by a qualified privilege.

In essence, slander law exists to balance two important rights: the right to protect your good name and livelihood from destructive lies, and the right to free speech and open communication. It does not protect people from criticism, embarrassment, or unpopular truths. It serves as a guardrail, stepping in only when someone carelessly or maliciously crosses the line into falsehoods that cause real-world damage. If you believe you are a victim, the path requires proving a concrete false statement was recklessly shared and that it hit you squarely in your reputation and your wallet.