What is Defamatory?

Although by no means an exhaustive list, subject to a claimant being able to satisfy the 'serious harm' test, the following are likely to be defamatory and potentially actionable:

Individual, X, (who may or may not be named explicitly) has committed some criminal or seriously anti-social act ...
X is a liar, is dishonest or has committed a fraudulent act ...
X took a bribe; X tried to bribe Y ...
X stole from Y; X is a thief ...
X is violent or abusive in some way ...
X damaged Y's property ...
X is a drug dealer, a drug user or, simply, 'is involved in' drugs ...
X is a hypocrite ...
X is bankrupt; is nearly bankrupt or has serious financial problems ...
X owes money which he won't (or can't) pay back ...
X sexually assaulted or harassed Y ...
X is sexually perverted in some way ...
X had sex with an underage girl or boy; X is a paedophile ...
X is cheating on his wife/her husband or his/her long term partner ...
X is gay, when X is married to someone of the opposite sex, or claims publicly not to be gay ...
X has a sexually transmitted disease ...
X has had plastic surgery (when it's been denied previously) ...
X 'framed' Y for a crime ...
X (particularly policeman) planted evidence, 'fitted up' Y, forced an untrue confession ...
X was negligent in some way, was guilty of a dereliction of duty ...
X harassed Y, was a nuisance ...
X's activities are putting others at risk, in danger, damaging the environment ...
X exploits others in some way ...
Company Z is dishonest (for whatever reason) ...
Z's products are dangerous or unhealthy, for example cause cancer ...
Z's products are substandard, of poor quality...
Z's methods of production, operating methods or activities are putting employees, customers, the public at risk in some way ...
Z's activities are damaging the environment ...
Z exploits its workers in some way, for example uses child labour, low pay, uses sweat shops ...
Z is bankrupt, is nearly bankrupt or is in financial trouble ...