notorious
nuh-TAW-rih-uhs
Notorious (adj) means Famous or well known for something bad. Example: “The city was notorious for its high crime rate.”
adj
1
Famous or well known for something bad.
"The city was notorious for its high crime rate."
"He was a notorious con artist in the 1920s."
"The road is notorious for its sudden fog and sharp bends."
2
Widely and clearly known; obvious (a more neutral, less common use).
"It is a notorious fact that the bridge was poorly built."
"It is notorious that winters in this region are long and cold."
"His love of fishing was notorious among all his neighbours."
How to use notorious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWell known, almost always for something bad or scandalous.
Common mistake
Usually negative — don't use "notorious" to praise someone the way you'd use "famous" or "renowned."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
notorious for
notoriously difficult
notorious criminal
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more notorious
- Superlative
- most notorious
Fill the gap
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The city was _____ for its high crime rate.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin notorius ("well-known, evident"), from Latin notus ("known"), the perfect participle of noscere ("to become acquainted with").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for notorious
See all rhymes for notorious →Frequently asked questions
What does “notorious” mean?
The word “notorious” means famous or well known for something bad. In plain terms, well known, almost always for something bad or scandalous.
How do you pronounce “notorious”?
“Notorious” is pronounced nuh-TAW-rih-uhs (/nəˈtɔ.ɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “notorious” in a sentence?
Here is “notorious” used in a sentence: “The city was notorious for its high crime rate.”
What is another word for “notorious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “notorious” include disreputable, ill-famed, infamous, nefarious, niddering and nidering.
What is the opposite of “notorious”?
The opposite of “notorious” — its antonyms — are unnotorious, unfamous, acclaimed, distinguished and celebrated.
What part of speech is “notorious”?
“Notorious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “notorious” come from?
The word “notorious” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin notorius ("well-known, evident"), from Latin notus ("known"), the perfect participle of noscere ("to become acquainted with").
Is “notorious” a common word?
“Notorious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between notorious and famous?
Notorious means famous or well known specifically for something bad, while famous is neutral and can apply to positive, negative, or unremarkable reasons for recognition. Calling someone notorious implies a negative reputation rather than simple public recognition.
What is the difference between notorious and infamous?
Notorious and infamous are close synonyms, both describing someone or something widely known for bad reasons, and they are often used interchangeably. Notorious can occasionally be used more neutrally to mean widely and clearly known, though this use is less common.
Can notorious ever be used in a positive way?
Notorious is occasionally used to mean simply widely and clearly known or obvious, a more neutral sense, but this use is far less common than its primary meaning of being famous for something bad. In most everyday use, calling something notorious carries a negative connotation.
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