What does calumny mean?
Word: Calumny
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Calumny means a false statement made on purpose to damage someone's good name.
Synonyms: slander, smear
Antonyms: praise
Word origin: Comes from Latin calumnia, meaning trickery or a false claim.
How do you spell calumny?
Syllables: cal - um - ny
Tricky part: The m and n sit side by side near the end, and both are sounded. Students often slip an extra vowel between them and write calumeny or caluminy.
Watch out for: calumeny, caluminy
Memory tip: Picture the m and the n standing shoulder to shoulder, two friends who refuse to let any vowel squeeze between them.
Calumny in a sentence
Example 1: The film star said the rumour about him was pure calumny, since he had never even visited that city.
Example 2: Spreading calumny about a classmate is unfair, even as a joke.
Example 3: Grandpa says the best answer to calumny is to keep living honestly.
Fun Fact
Calumny and challenge come from the same Latin word, calumnia: challenge first meant an accusation before it came to mean a call to compete.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
a, u
a) c__l__mny
b) l__t__ny
c) c__l__mn
d) s__l__mn
Show answer
a) c__l__mny. With a and u the first option becomes calumny; column needs o and u, solemn o and e, and litany i and a.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Calumny comes from ___ and it means ___. 1. Greek 2. Latin 3. French 4. German 5. a false statement that harms someone's name 6. a loud quarrel 7. a promise made in secret 8. a gift given in thanks
a) 3/7
b) 1/5
c) 2/5
d) 4/6
Show answer
c) 2/5. Latin calumnia meant trickery, and calumny is still a false claim that hurts a reputation.
Spell Probe
Find the misspelt word in the sentence and choose its meaning:
In the old tale, the minister answered every calumny with quiet pashence, and in time the villagers saw who had been telling the truth.
a) the ability to stay calm and wait without complaining
b) a false statement made to damage someone's good name
c) people who live in a village
d) a person who helps a king or queen to rule
Show answer
a) the ability to stay calm and wait without complaining. Pashence should be patience: the 'sh' sound here is spelt ti.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
nyulcam 1234567
a) 1643752
b) 5743612
c) 5643712
d) 5634712
Show answer
c) 5643712. Read in that order, the letters spell c-a-l-u-m-n-y.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would count as calumny?
a) praising a friend's painting
b) reading a newspaper aloud
c) asking a teacher a question
d) telling lies to spoil someone's name
Show answer
d) telling lies to spoil someone's name
2. If a newspaper prints a calumny, it should ___.
a) add more pictures
b) publish a correction
c) raise its price
d) print it again
Show answer
b) publish a correction
