What is the definition of libel?

Libel is defined as a falsely written statement that damages a person's reputation or character. This definition is rooted in the legal context, where libel falls under defamation laws. For a statement to be considered libelous, it must be false, have the potential to harm the subject’s reputation, and be communicated to a third party in a permanent form, such as in writing or print.

In contrast, an opinion expressed in a published article does not qualify as libel since opinions cannot be objectively proven true or false—they are subjective interpretations of facts. A truthful statement about someone's actions cannot be libelous because truth is a strong defense against defamation claims; if the statement is accurate, it cannot harm the person's reputation by being labeled as false. Lastly, a serious accusation made in a speech becomes more related to slander, which pertains to spoken defamatory statements rather than written ones, even if both records fall under defamation laws. This understanding underlines why the first option is aligned precisely with the legal definition of libel.