Editing Lashon hara (section)

==Definition==
Speech is considered to be ''lashon hara'' (detraction) if it says something negative about a person or party, is not seriously intended to correct or improve a negative situation, and is true. Statements that fit this description are considered to be ''lashon hara'', regardless of the method of communication that is used, whether it is through face-to-face conversation, a letter, telephone, or email, or even body language.

By contrast, ''hotzaat shem ra'' ("spreading a bad name") – also called ''hotzaat diba'' or ''motzi shem ra'' (lit. "putting out a bad name") – consists of [[lie]]s, and is best translated as "slander" or "defamation" (calumny). ''Hotzaat shem ra'' is an even graver [[sin]] than ''lashon hara''.<ref name="Telushkin" />

The act of [[gossip]]ing is called ''rechilut'', and is also forbidden by halakha.<ref name="OU">{{cite web|url=https://outorah.org/p/5887|title=Rechilus: The prohibition against gossipping|work=[[Orthodox Union]] site|access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref>