TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

DEFAMATORY WORDS [1 record]

Record 1 2014-06-27

English

Subject field(s)
  • Tort Law (common law)
CONT

Defamatory words are statements that, in the eyes of a reasonable person, discredit the plaintiff. Speaking of the "reasonable man," Canadian courts have said: "He is a person of normal intelligence who makes prudence a guide to his conduct. He does nothing that a prudent man would not do and does not omit to do anything a prudent man would do."

OBS

defamatory words: term usually used in plural in this context.

OBS

Defamation - the utterance of a false statement that harms the reputation of another. Although most state laws require that a defamatory statement be made with knowledge of its falsehood, in some jurisdictions a cause of action exists for negligent defamation.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Droit des délits (common law)
CONT

Des propos diffamatoires tenus devant un groupe de personnes partageant une même communauté d'intérêts est considéré comme privé (par exemple, lors d'un comité d'entreprise).

OBS

propos diffamatoires : terme habituellement utilisé au pluriel dans ce contexte.

Spanish

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