lasterlijke

Lasterlijke is an adjective in Dutch that describes something defamatory or slanderous. It is used to characterize statements, accusations, or publications that damage a person’s reputation by presenting false or unverified claims as facts. The corresponding noun is laster, meaning slander or libel, from which the adjective is formed with the usual Dutch suffix -lijk.

In usage, lasterlijke claims are those that go beyond mere criticism or opinion and present untrue assertions as facts capable of harming someone's reputation. The term is common in formal, journalistic, and legal contexts, and it can be paired with masculine or feminine nouns such as lasterlijke aantijgingen (defamatory accusations) or lasterlijke geruchten (defamatory rumors).

Etymologically, lasterlijke derives from laster, which denotes injury to reputation caused by false statements, combined with the adjectival suffix -lijk. The word is primarily used in Dutch-speaking environments, including the Netherlands and Flanders, and can appear in both general discourse and more specialized discussions of media ethics, law, or public accountability.

Legal and ethical considerations often accompany the use of lasterlijke to distinguish between free expression and harmful misrepresentation. Defamation laws in Dutch-speaking jurisdictions generally address the harm caused by false statements about identifiable individuals, with defenses that may include truth, fair comment, or absence of malice. The term remains a descriptive label rather than a legal judgment itself, signaling that a claim is intended to injure reputationally.

See also: laster, smaad, defamation, reputational harm, freedom of expression.