What does defamation refer to?

Defamation specifically refers to the act of damaging a person's reputation through false statements. This can occur through written statements, known as libel, or spoken statements, known as slander. The key components that make this definition accurate include the necessity for the statements to be false and to cause harm to the individual's reputation.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different legal or ethical concerns. Publishing private information without consent pertains to invasion of privacy, which is a separate legal issue not directly related to defamation. Making harmful statements unintentionally could fall under a different legal doctrine, such as negligence, but does not adequately capture the essence of defamation, which requires intent or at least negligence in making false statements. The notion of a legal act of malpractice typically refers to a failure to adhere to the required standard of care in a professional context, which is distinct from issues of reputation and falsehood inherent in defamation.