Final Answer:
Spreading harmful and untrue information about someone that damages their character or well-being is referred to as defamation.
Defamation is the term used for spreading false rumors about someone that are detrimental to their character or well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defamation is the act of making false statements about an individual that harm their reputation. It encompasses both slander (spoken defamation) and libel (written or published defamation). In the context of your question, the term "saying false rumors" aligns with the definition of defamation. The use of the words "hurtful to their character or well-being" emphasizes the negative impact of the false information.
Spreading Harmful and Untrue Information: Defamation involves the dissemination of information that is both false and damaging. This aligns with the act of saying false rumors in a way that harms the person's character or overall well-being.
Detrimental to Character or Well-being: The term "defamation" encapsulates the idea that the false rumors have a negative effect on the individual's character or well-being. This emphasizes the harm caused by the spreading of false information.
Understanding defamation is crucial in legal contexts, as individuals who have been defamed may seek legal remedies to protect their reputation and seek damages for the harm caused.