Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

Spoken statements that cause harm to someone’s reputation are referred to as what?

1. Libel

2. Slander

3. Trade defamation

4. Defamation of character

The correct answer is: Slander

Spoken statements that cause harm to someone’s reputation are classified as slander. Slander specifically refers to verbal communication that is false and damaging to a person’s reputation. The distinction is important because it highlights how different types of defamation—libel and slander—are treated under the law. Libel pertains to written statements or visual representations that defame someone, while slander deals with spoken remarks. Both are forms of defamation, but the medium of expression is what differentiates them. The other terms listed, such as trade defamation and defamation of character, also refer to negative impacts on reputation but may encompass various forms of defamation or specific contexts. Trade defamation, for instance, typically pertains to false statements about a business, while defamation of character encompasses both slander and libel. In this scenario, since the focus is specifically on spoken statements, slander is the correct term to use.