What does "defamation" encompass?

Defamation encompasses intentional false communication that damages a person's reputation. This legal concept pertains to the harm caused to an individual's standing within the community or among peers due to false statements. Defamation can manifest in two primary forms: libel, which refers to written statements, and slander, which pertains to spoken statements. For a statement to be considered defamatory, it must meet certain criteria, including being false, made with some level of fault, and causing harm to the person's reputation.

The other options do not capture the complete definition of defamation. For instance, limiting defamation to only verbal attacks on character ignores the written aspect (libel). Mentioning official statements made by government officials does not necessarily pertain to defamation, as these statements may be protected under certain legal doctrines. Lastly, the act of giving sworn testimony refers to legal proceedings and does not inherently involve the concept of defamation, which relates specifically to damaging statements made outside of court.