In legal terms, reputation refers to the general opinion or esteem in which a person or entity is held by others within a community or society. It encompasses perceptions of a person’s character, integrity, trustworthiness, and standing based on their actions, behaviour, and interactions with others. Reputation can be an important factor in legal proceedings, particularly in cases involving defamation, where harm to a person’s reputation is a key element of the claim. In defamation cases, a plaintiff may seek damages for harm to their reputation caused by false statements made by the defendant. Reputation can also be relevant in other areas of law, such as employment law, where reputation may influence hiring decisions or disciplinary actions, and in contract law, where a party’s reputation for honesty and reliability may affect the enforceability of contracts. Overall, reputation plays a significant role in legal contexts, influencing perceptions, decisions, and outcomes in various legal matters.
n. a person’s good name, honour or what the community thinks of him/her.
The quality and value of one’s reputation is a key issue in suits for defamation (libel and slander) since the damage to one’s reputation by published untruths may determine the amount of judgment against the defamer. Sometimes a person’s favourable reputation is so great that most defamation cannot do him/her much harm.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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