When words have a latent meaning or a double meaning, then it is defamatory. This is called _______.

Solution

When words have a latent meaning or a double meaning (pun), then it is defamatory. This is called "Innuendo". Sometimes the statement may be prima facie innocent but because of some latent or secondary meaning may be considered to be defamatory. When the natural and ordinary meaning is not defamatory but the plaintiff wants to bring an action of defamation, he must prove the latent or secondary meaning i.e., innuendo which makes the statement defamatory. For example, the statement that a lady has given birth to a child is defamatory when the lady is unmarried. Libel and slander are other forms of defamation. Libel is representation made in a permanent form like writing, movie, picture etc. For e.g., X printed some advertisement saying Y is bankrupt but Y was not thus it was representation in a specific form. Slander, on the other hand is the publication of a defamatory statement in transient form like spoken words or gestures. For e.g., A questions the chastity of B in an interview, A is slanderous.