What constitutes slander?

Slander is defined as a form of defamation that occurs when an untrue statement is made verbally about an individual, harming that person's reputation. It specifically refers to spoken words, distinguishing it from libel, which pertains to written statements. When someone communicates a harmful untruth about another person in a verbal format, this can lead to reputational damage, and the affected individual may have grounds for a legal claim.

In this context, the other options do not accurately represent slander: written defamation refers to libel, lawful truths spoken in bad faith do not constitute slander because they are based on facts, and documented threats relate more to intimidation or harassment, not defamation. Thus, the key aspect of slander is the verbal communication of false information that injures someone’s reputation, making it the correct answer.