What term is used to describe written defamation?

The term used to describe written defamation is libel. Libel specifically refers to the act of making false and damaging statements in a fixed medium, such as writing, that harms an individual's reputation. This is distinguished from slander, which pertains to spoken defamatory statements. In legal contexts, libel is considered more serious due to its permanence; once something is written, it can be widely circulated and remain accessible over time, potentially causing lasting harm to a person's reputation.

Defamation is the broader term that encompasses both libel and slander, as it refers to any communication that unjustly harms someone's reputation. Invasion of privacy, while related to reputational harm, specifically addresses the unauthorized intrusion into someone's personal life, rather than the public dissemination of false statements. Thus, libel is the precise term for written defamation, indicating the medium through which the defamatory content is delivered.