notorious

[ noh-tawr-ee-uhs, nuh- ]

adjective

1. widely and unfavorably known:

   a notorious gambler.

   Synonyms: ill-famed, disreputable, flagrant, arrant, egregious, infamous

2. publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait:

   a newspaper that is notorious for its sensationalism.

   Synonyms: famous, conspicuous, prominent, celebrated, renowned, notable

notorious

/ ˌnəʊtəˈraɪɪtɪ; nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs /

adjective

1. well-known for some bad or unfavourable quality, deed, etc; infamous
2. rare.
   generally known or widely acknowledged

Derived Forms

• notoriety, noun
• noˈtoriously, adverb

Other Words From

• no·to·ri·ous·ly adverb
• no·to·ri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of notorious¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Medieval Latin nōtōrius “well known, public,” from Late Latin nōtōria “a notice, news, intelligence” and nōtōrium “indictment, (criminal) charge,” equivalent to nō(scere) “to get to know” + -tōrius adjective suffix; notify, -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of notorious¹

C16: from Medieval Latin notōrius well-known, from nōtus known, from noscere to know

Example Sentences

The most notorious states are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where death is an acceptable legal remedy.

From The Daily Beast

According to a Yemeni intelligence source, Saïd met with the notorious U.S. preacher Anwar al Awlaki.

From The Daily Beast

I was there to track down the family of one of the most notorious defectors in Cuban history.

From The Daily Beast

Turns out, this is the second notorious crook to come from this small town.

From The Daily Beast

The party sequence in Notorious begins with a wide shot from high above the top of the stairs, all glittering expanse below.

From The Daily Beast

This is notorious, and admitted by all parties; and these causes will not be in operation at another election.

From Project Gutenberg

He was defendant in the breach of promise suit brought by a notorious London actress, then playing in a popular revue.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Whig chiefs were not men to be duped by the professions of so notorious a liar.

From Project Gutenberg

Each cachet contained three decigrams of malourea, the insidious drug notorious under its trade name of Veronal.

From Project Gutenberg

Going back still another hundred years we come to the times of the notorious apostate, Marcion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blatant
• flagrant
• high-profile
• infamous
• prominent
• well-known