What term describes the legal principle governing the consequences of intentional harm to a person’s reputation?

The term that best describes the legal principle governing the consequences of intentional harm to a person's reputation is defamation. Defamation is a broad legal concept that encompasses both libel and slander, which are specific types of defamation.

When someone makes a false statement about another person that injures their reputation, that action falls under defamation. This includes making false public statements that cause damage to someone's personal or professional reputation. The key here is that the harm arises from false statements presented as facts, and the intent behind those statements is crucial to establishing defamation.

Libel refers specifically to defamatory statements made in written or published form, while slander pertains to verbal statements. Both are subsets of defamation, which is why the broader term is the most appropriate answer in this context, as it encompasses all forms of reputation harm caused by false statements.