Defamation is defined as which of the following?

Defamation refers to the act of making a false statement that damages a person’s reputation. For a statement to qualify as defamation, it must be communicated to a third party and must result in harm to the person's reputation, character, or standing in the community. This essential definition underscores that the crux of defamation lies in the false nature of the statement, as truth is a key defense against defamation claims.

The other choices do not fit the definition of defamation. Physical attacks relate to personal injury or assault, an invasion of privacy involves intruding upon someone’s personal affairs without consent, and a breach of contract pertains to failing to fulfill agreed-upon terms in a contractual obligation. Each of these concepts occupies a separate area of law and does not capture the essence of defamation as the act of damaging reputation through false statements.