'vilification' originates from Latin via Old French, specifically from the Medieval Latin/Latin verb 'vilificare' (or Old French 'vilifier'), where 'vilis' meant 'cheap, base' and the element '-ficare' meant 'to make'.

'vilification' changed from Medieval Latin/Old French words such as 'vilificare'/'vilifier' and eventually became the modern English word 'vilification' (formed from the verb 'vilify' + suffix '-ation').

Initially, it meant 'to make cheap or base' (to regard as low in worth), but over time it evolved into the modern sense of 'to defame or slander', i.e. to attack someone's reputation.