Dictionary-enhanced word family
Word Forms of “Slander”
To say untrue bad things about someone that damage what people think of them. The false claims are spoken, not written.
Word Family of Slander
What is the noun of slander? — slander, slanderer
What is the verb of slander? — slander
What is the adjective of slander? — slanderous
What is the adverb of slander? — slanderously
How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence
- The politician accused his opponent of attempting to slander him during the debate. C1
- It is illegal to slander someone by making false accusations about their character. C1
- She refused to slander her rivals despite the competitive pressure. C1
Word Form Patterns for Slander
-er
Adds **-er** to make a noun for a person or thing that performs the action. Example: slander → slander, slanderer.
-ous
Adds **-ous** to form an adjective describing a quality or possession. Example: slander → slanderous.
-ly
Adds **-ly** to make an adverb describing how an action happens. Example: slander → slanderously.
Origin and Word Formation of Slander
From Old French 'escandre' (disgrace, shame). Related to 'scandal'. Entered English in 13th century with legal meaning of false accusation.
Common Word Form Mistakes with Slander
Wrong: Don't slander about him.
Correct: Don't slander him. / Don't say bad things about him.
'Slander' is a transitive verb; it needs a direct object (who you're slandering), not 'about'.
Wrong: The slander of him was wrong.
Correct: Slandering him was wrong.
When using as a noun, 'slander' typically refers to the act itself or the false claims in general, not 'the slander of him'. Use the gerund or say 'false accusations'.
Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Slander
What are the word forms of “slander”?
The confirmed forms are shown in the word family cards above. Missing parts of speech are hidden instead of filled with placeholder text.
What part of speech is “slander”?
“slander” is primarily a verb. Some forms above show how the same root works as other parts of speech.
Where does “slander” come from?
From Old French 'escandre' (disgrace, shame). Related to 'scandal'. Entered English in 13th century with legal meaning of false accusation.