1. Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.
2. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

li·bel (lī'bəl) pronunciation
n.

1.
1. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation.
2. The act of presenting such material to the public.

Please retract your previous statement immediately.

Jim Mitchell.