What is an untruthful spoken statement that harms an individual's reputation called?

The term that describes an untruthful spoken statement that harms an individual's reputation is specifically known as slander. Slander involves the verbal communication of false information, which can damage someone's reputation or cause them harm in their personal or professional life. It is a subset of defamation, which encompasses all forms of damaging untruths about a person, whether spoken (slander) or written (libel).

Understanding this distinction is essential. Slander focuses solely on spoken statements, while libel refers to written statements. Malpractice, on the other hand, typically relates to professional negligence and is not directly related to harming an individual's reputation through untruths. Thus, identifying slander as the correct answer highlights the importance of recognizing how spoken words can impact an individual's standing in society.