What type of tort involves harm to an individual's or business's reputation?

The correct answer is defamation, which specifically pertains to false statements that harm an individual's or business's reputation. Defamation can take two forms: libel, which is written defamation, and slander, which refers to spoken defamation. In both cases, the key element is that the statement made must be untrue and communicated to a third party, leading to damage in reputation. This legal concept is crucial in protecting individuals and businesses from unjust harm caused by false information.

Negligence, on the other hand, typically involves a failure to exercise reasonable care, leading to physical harm or property damage, rather than reputational harm. Fraud pertains to deceptive practices intended to secure unfair or unlawful gain, focusing more on financial loss than reputation. Assault involves a physical threat or harm directed toward a person, not related to reputational damage. Hence, defamation is distinctly aligned with the issue of reputation, making it the correct answer.