Slander is defamation committed through spoken words — a transient, non-recorded false statement of fact, published to a third party, that causes demonstrable harm. It is the spoken counterpart to libel, which covers defamation in a fixed or recorded medium.
Slander matters in reputation management when damaging false statements are made in live settings: conference remarks, podcast appearances, video livestreams, phone calls, or in-person meetings. Because slander is spoken, it presents an evidentiary challenge — the statement must be proven to have been made, to whom, and what exactly was said — which is why recorded or transcribed speech often shifts the analysis toward libel, the recorded form.
The elements of slander mirror those of defamation generally: a false factual assertion, publication to a third party, fault, and damages. Some jurisdictions require special damages (specific financial loss) for slander unless the statement falls into a category considered defamatory per se — such as an accusation of a serious crime, a statement injuring someone in their profession, or an imputation of a loathsome disease.
For online reputation, slander often converts to libel when the spoken statement is recorded and published — a livestream clip, a podcast episode, a social video. At that point the recorded form governs, and the higher evidentiary certainty of the recording makes the legal path more viable. The professional response is the same as for libel: assess against the legal test with qualified counsel, document the falsity and harm, and pursue correction or removal lawfully.
Slander, like all defamation, is a precise legal category. It is not a synonym for "someone said something mean." Understanding the distinction keeps reputation response proportionate and avoids the amplification that comes from threatening legal action over non-actionable speech.