adjective
infamous
IHN-fuh-muhs
adjective
1
Well known for something bad; having a very bad reputation.
"The prison became infamous for its brutal conditions."
"He is infamous among fans for walking off stage mid-concert."
How to Use Infamous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFamous, but for something bad rather than something good.
Common mistake
Not just a stronger version of famous — infamous specifically means famous for wrongdoing or scandal, not just well known.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
infamous for
infamous incident
notoriously infamous
Word Forms
more infamous comparative, most infamous superlative
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The prison became _____ for its brutal conditions.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis — in- + fāma, "fame, reputation."