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Infamous vs Defamation - What's the difference?

infamous | defamation |

As an adjective infamous

is having a bad reputation, disreputable; of bad report; notoriously vile; detestable; widely known, especially for something bad.

As a noun defamation is

act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.

infamous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • having a bad reputation, disreputable; of bad report; notoriously vile; detestable; widely known, especially for something bad
    • He was an infamous traitor.
    He was an infamous perjurer.
  • causing infamy; disgraceful
    • This infamous deed tarnishes all involved.
  • (archaic) in England / Great Britain, a judicial punishment which deprived the infamous person of certain rights; this included a prohibition against holding public office, exercising the franchise, receiving a public pension, serving on a jury, or giving testimony in a court of law.

    • Derived terms

    * infamously * infamousness * infamy

    References

    * Oxford English Dictionary

    defamation

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.

    • Synonyms

    * slander * detraction * calumny * aspersion * See also

    Related terms

    * defame * defamatory