DISPARAGEMENT

disparagement (di-spair-ij-m<<schwa>>nt), n. 1. A derogatory comparison of one thing with

another <the disparagement consisted in comparing the acknowledged liar to a murderer>.2. The

act or an instance of castigating or detracting from the reputation of, esp. unfairly or untruthfully

<when  she  told  the  press  the  details  of  her  husband’s  philandering,  her  statements  amounted  to

disparagement>.3. A false and injurious statement that discredits or detracts from the reputation of

another’s property, product, or business. • To recover in tort for disparagement, the plaintiff must

prove that the statement caused a third  party to take some action resulting in specific pecuniary

loss to the plaintiff. — Also termed injurious falsehood. — More narrowly termed slander of title;

trade libel; slander of goods. See TRADE DISPARAGEMENT . Cf. commercial defamation under

DEFAMATION.  [Cases:  Libel  and  Slander    130,  133.  C.J.S.  Libel  and  Slander;  Injurious

Falsehood   §§   204–206,   209.]   4.   Reproach,   disgrace,   or   indignity   <self-importance   is   a

disparagement  of  greatness>.5.Hist.  The  act  or  an  instance  of  pairing  an  heir  in  marriage  with

someone of an inferior social rank <the guardian’s arranging for the heir’s marriage to a chimney

sweep amounted to disparagement>. — disparage,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]