Libel, for one, is a type of TORT, or civil wrong. It is a false statement that is published and causes harm to someone's reputation. Libel is a form of defamation, which is the act of making a false statement about someone that harms their reputation. Libel is different from slander, which is an oral false statement that harms someone's reputation. Libel is actionable in court, meaning that a person can sue for damages if they have been libeled.