It’s one of those terms that are often used interchangeably, but really, they mean different things.

It’s therefore important to understand the difference between the two.

The key difference relates to the form in which the defamatory matter is published.

Libel relates to a written or otherwise published, public defamation of someone or something.

Slander, on the other hand, relates to the spoken false defamation of a person or entity, and can also include gestures or sign language.

The main difference is that the publication of the offending material is fleeting in nature.