a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation

he was found guilty of a libel on a Liverpool inspector of taxes

(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff's written declaration

defame (someone) by publishing a libel

the jury found that he was libelled by a newspaper

(in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against

if a ship does you any injury you libel the ship