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infamy

[in-fuh-mee]
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noun, plural in·fa·mies for 3.
  1. extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act: a time that will live in infamy.
  2. infamous character or conduct.
  3. an infamous act or circumstance.
  4. Law. loss of rights, incurred by conviction of an infamous offense.
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Origin of infamy

1425–75; late Middle English infamye < Latin infāmia, equivalent to infām(is) ill-famed (in- in-3 + fām(a) fame + -is adj. suffix) + -ia -y3

Synonyms

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1. disrepute, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, shame. See disgrace.

Antonyms

1. credit, honor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

notoriety, opprobrium, obloquy, odium, disgrace, impropriety, immorality, abomination, dishonor, disrepute, evil, outrageousness, shame, discredit, disapprobation, disesteem, stigma, ignominy, atrocity, scandal

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British Dictionary definitions for infamy

infamy

noun plural -mies
  1. the state or condition of being infamous
  2. an infamous act or event
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Word Origin

C15: from Latin infāmis of evil repute, from in- 1 + fāma fame
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for infamy

n.

early 15c., from Old French infamie (14c.), earlier infame, and directly from Latin infamia "ill fame, bad repute, dishonor, from infamis "of ill fame," from in- "not, without" + fama "reputation" (see fame (n.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper