detraction

From Old French detraccion, from Latin detractio.

• Rhymes: -ækʃən

detraction (countable and uncountable, plural detractions)

1. The act of detracting something, or something detracted; taking away; diminution.
2. A derogatory or malicious statement; a disparagement, misrepresentation or slander.
   • Isaac Barrow

     If indeed we consider all the frivolous and petulant discourse, the impertinent chattings, the rash censures, the spiteful detractions which are so rife in the world […]

3. (Roman Catholic Church) The act of revealing previously unknown faults of another person to a third person.

• See also Thesaurus:slander

• tractioned