Select the most appropriate one-word substitution for the given group of words. 

An act of printing a statement about somebody which is not true and generally to defame someone.

Libel

The most appropriate one-word substitution for an act of printing a statement about somebody which is not true and generally to defame someone is libel.

• Illiterate means unable to read or write.
• Lapidary means concise and to the point.
• Drover means a person who drives livestock over long distances.

The word libel is derived from the Latin word libellus, meaning "little book". It is a false statement that is published about someone, either in writing or in some other form, that is intended to harm their reputation. Libel can be a civil or criminal offense, and it can be punished by damages or imprisonment.