1. A derogatory comparison of one thing with another (the disparagement consisted in comparing the acknowledged liar to a murderer).
2. The act or an instance of castigating or detracting from the reputation of, esp. unfairly or untruthfully (when she told the press the details of her husband’s philandering, her statements amounted to disparagement).
3. A false and injurious statement that discredits or detracts from the reputation of another’s property, product, or business. • To recover in tort for disparagement, the plaintiff must prove that the statement caused a third party to take some action resulting in specific pecuniary loss to the plaintiff. — Also termed injurious falsehood. — More narrowly termed slander of title; trade libel; slander of goods. See TRADE DISPARAGEMENT . Cf. commercial defamation under DEFAMATION. [Cases: Libel and Slander 130, 133. C.J.S. Libel and Slander; Injurious Falsehood §§ 204–206, 209.]
4. Reproach, disgrace, or indignity (self-importance is a disparagement of greatness).
5. Hist. The act or an instance of pairing an heir in marriage with someone of an inferior social rank (the guardian’s arranging for the heir’s marriage to a chimney sweep amounted to disparagement). — disparage, vb.
