Are slander and defamation the same thing?
<blockquote>
<p>@Dave One of the elements of <em>slander</em> is publication of the falsehood. The fact that people believe the falsehood and take action based upon it is part of the damages element in a slander case. Forming opinions and taking actions based upon false statements that you believe to be true without republishing the false statements is not actionable.<br />
– <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/65121/what-is-required-for-a-slander-lawsuit/65127#comment137652_65127">ohwilleke May 24 '21 at 17:01</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>But what about <em>defamation</em>? Is this a legal synonym for slander? Or is it something different?</p>

<p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slander" rel="noreferrer">Slander</a> is one of two main categories of defamation, the other of which is libel. Historically, slander applied to oral statements, while libel applied to statements in writing. The modern trend is to eliminate all substantive legal distinctions between libel and slander.</p>

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