Slander -

"It's only slander if it's false," say legal analysts, noting that malicious rumors are often confused with protected, albeit unkind, opinions. An opinion, no matter how nasty, is generally not actionable. Slander must misrepresent facts.

The statement must be factually incorrect. Truth is an absolute defense. slander

It must cause actual harm to a person’s reputation, business, or character. "It's only slander if it's false," say legal

The Whispering Weapon: Understanding the Anatomy and Consequences of Slander "It's only slander if it's false

It must be heard by someone other than the person being slandered. The Legal Threshold: Why Slander is Hard to Prove

Communicated verbally, rather than written or printed.