What is defamation?

Defamation is defined as a false statement made about an individual or entity that results in harm to their reputation. This aligns perfectly with the chosen answer, which highlights that a statement must be untrue and have a damaging effect on someone's reputation for it to qualify as defamation. The essence of defamation lies in the protection of one's reputation against falsehoods, which can have serious social and economic consequences for the person denigrated by such false statements.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe defamation. A tort causing emotional distress can coexist with defamation but is a broader legal concept that encompasses various actions beyond just spoken or written falsehoods. An act of negligence refers to a failure to take reasonable care which leads to damage or injury, and while defamation may involve negligence in some cases, it is not itself classified as negligence. A breach of contract involves failing to fulfill the terms of a contractual agreement, which is also a distinct legal issue that does not relate to reputational harm from false statements.