The act of making a false statement that injures someone's reputation is known as?

The act of making a false statement that injures someone's reputation is defined as defamation. Defamation encompasses both spoken and written statements that can harm an individual's character or reputation. When the false statement is made orally, it is typically referred to as slander, which is a specific type of defamation.

Defamation can occur through various means, including printed materials, social media, and other forms of public communication. The key element is that the statement must be false, and it must lead to damage to the person's reputation. In this context, selecting defamation captures the broader nature of the offense, which includes the various forms and mediums through which harmful statements can be made.

The other terms, such as assault and battery, refer to physical actions that cause harm or the threat of harm and are not related to the making of false statements impacting someone's reputation. Thus, the selection of defamation is correct as it directly addresses the concept in question.