Which term describes the act of making a false statement that hurts someone’s reputation?

The correct term for the act of making a false statement that damages someone's reputation is defamation. Defamation encompasses both spoken statements, known as slander, and written statements, known as libel. This legal term specifically addresses the harm caused to an individual’s reputation due to false information, which can lead to significant personal and professional consequences for the affected individual.

In contrast, harassment generally refers to unwanted behavior that provokes or intimidates individuals, but does not specifically focus on damaging reputations through false statements. Assault, on the other hand, involves a physical act or threat of harm rather than a verbal or written falsehood. Negligence pertains to a failure to take proper care in doing something, leading to unintended harm, and does not directly involve false statements about an individual that could harm their reputation.