blood libel noun4 •The false, anti-Semitic accusation that Jews abduct and murder non-Jewish children to use their blood for their religious rituals and holidays. •Any false or purportedly false accusation of murder of a non-Jew by a Jewish person or organization.The Israeli Cabinet, meeting in emergency session, issued a statement tonight calling allegations of Israeli responsibility a “blood libel.” — 1982 •Any false or purportedly false accusation of guilt, especially of guilt in mass murder or homicide.What I called blood libel was the charge that Pope Pius XII, and my church, were moral accessories to mass murder. — 1989 •More generally, any canard or virulent lie about someone.The phrase “blood libel” dates back to antiquity. […] In more recent times, it has been appropriated by some to mean simply a virulent lie stated about someone. — 2011 formsblood libels
