Disparagement when individual takes Independent (9)
I believe the answer is:
aspersion
'disparagement' is the definition.
(aspersion is a kind of disparagement)
'when individual takes independent' is the wordplay.
'when' becomes 'as'.
'individual' becomes 'person' ('person' can be a synonym of 'individual').
'takes' indicates putting letters inside.
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'person' placed around 'i' is 'persion'.
'as'+'persion'='ASPERSION'
(Other definitions for aspersion that I've seen before include "Defamatory suggestion" , "Attack on the character" , "Cast this slur" , "Slander" , "Malicious remark" .)