adjective

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

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."

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 notes

In 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

famous → notorious → renowned → infamous →

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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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famous renowned noted prominent celebrated established common knowledge recognised

Antonyms

unknown obscure little-known

Related words

important known received dark standard established standing traditional

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.

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important known received dark standard established standing traditional