Slander or libel are both forms of defamation, which is the act of making false statements about someone that harm their reputation. Defamation is a 6-letter word, and a TORT is a 4-letter word for a civil wrong or wrongful act. Slander and libel are both torts, meaning they are civil wrongs that can be remedied through a lawsuit. Slander is spoken defamation, while libel is written defamation. Both slander and libel can cause serious damage to a person's reputation, and can lead to financial losses.