adjective
A2
Elementary
well-known
wel-NOHN
Well-known (adjective) means Known about by a lot of people; familiar to the public or to a particular group. Example: “He is a well-known face on local television.”
adjective
1
Known about by a lot of people; familiar to the public or to a particular group.
"He is a well-known face on local television."
"The area is well known for its bookshops."
2
Widely accepted or established as fact.
"It is a well-known problem with older models."
"That the drug causes drowsiness is well known."
How to use well-known
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLots of people know about it.
When to use it
Neutral; safe in both formal and casual writing.
Memory tip
Drop the hyphen when the phrase follows the verb — 'she is well known' is correct without one.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
well-known brand
well-known fact
well known for
widely known
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Can you complete this real example?
He is a _____ face on local television.
Etymology
From Middle English well knowen. By surface analysis, well + known.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between well-known and famous?
Famous implies a large, often national or global audience and a degree of celebrity. Well-known is milder and frequently limited to a field or place — a well-known cardiologist is respected within medicine but unlikely to be recognised in the street.
When do you hyphenate well-known?
Hyphenate it before the noun it describes: 'a well-known author'. Leave the hyphen out after the verb: 'the author is well known'. The same rule applies to well-behaved, well-dressed and similar compounds.
Is well-known the same as notorious?
No. Notorious means well known specifically for something bad. Well-known is neutral and carries no judgement, so calling someone notorious when you mean merely famous is a serious change of meaning.
What is the meaning of well-known?
"well-known" (adjective) means known about by a lot of people; familiar to the public or to a particular group.
