Defamation (libel and slander) generally means the unprivileged publication (to a third party) of a false and defamatory statement concerning another without reasonable care as to whether the statement was true or false. The publisher must act with knowledge or reckless disregard as to the falsity on a matter concerning a public official, or at least negligently on a matter concerning a private person. In defamation cases, the interest sought to be protected is the objective one of reputation, either economic, political, or personal, in the outside world.

Generally, an action for libel will lie for false and unprivileged publication by letter, or otherwise, which exposes person to distrust, hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy or which causes such person to be avoided, or which has a tendency to injure such person in his office, occupation, business or employment.

Slander is a spoken or oral defamation of another which is published to others and which tends to damage that person's reputation, ability to conduct that person's business or profession, and which holds that person up to disgrace and humiliation.