Calumny
/ˈkæləmni/
nounC2
Definition
Calumny is when a person says untrue and bad things about another person to make others think badly of them. It is a serious kind of lying that can hurt someone's good name or how people see them. People use calumny to unfairly blame or insult others.
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See It in Action
A false statement made to damage someone's reputation
- •The politician was a victim of calumny during the election.
- •She suffered from calumny when rumors spread lies about her work.
- •Calumny can destroy trust between friends and coworkers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "calumny" like "lie" (A1 word), but it is a special lie that tries to hurt someone's reputation or honor.
- ✓Picture someone whispering false stories behind another person's back to make others not trust them.
- ✓It's the feeling when you hear someone say something untrue about you that makes you sad or angry because it is unfair.
- ✓Sounds like "CAL-um-nee" → imagine a "call" that spreads "nasty news" that is not true.
- ✓In stories or movies, villains often use calumny to make heroes look bad and lose friends.
- ✓NOT like "joke" (funny and not serious), calumny is serious and meant to harm.
- ✓NOT like "criticism" (honest or fair opinion), calumny is false and unfair.
- ✓NOT like "rumor" (may be true or false), calumny is always false and harmful.
Try Other Words
- •Slander: spoken false statements that damage reputation (Use when the harmful statement is said aloud)
- •Defamation: the act of harming someone's good name by false statements (Use in legal or formal contexts)
- •False accusation: wrong blame or charge (Use when someone is wrongly blamed for something specific)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; whole word from Latin origin)
- •Etymology: From Latin "calumnia," meaning trick or false accusation
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1400s to mean false and harmful statements against others
- •Modern usage: Mostly formal or literary; used to describe serious lies that hurt reputations
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think calumny affects people’s trust in their communities or workplaces?
•Can you think of a time when someone was unfairly harmed by calumny in stories, history, or real life?
Fill in the blanks
1.When a person spreads calumny, they ___ false information to hurt someone's reputation.
2.Calumny causes ___ between friends because it makes people believe untrue things.
3.Unlike honest criticism, calumny is always ___ and meant to damage.
4.The court case involved calumny because the defendant was accused of ___ accusations.
5.People who use calumny often do it to gain ___ or power over others.
6.Calumny is different from a simple rumor because it is ___ and harmful.
7.When someone faces calumny, they may feel ___ and want to clear their name.