infamy

American  

[in-fuh-mee] / ˈɪn fə mi /

noun

infamies plural

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.

   Synonyms:

   obloquy, disrepute, shame, opprobrium, odium

   Antonyms:

   honor, credit

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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infamy British  

/ ˈɪnfəmɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being infamous

2. an infamous act or event

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Usage

What does infamy mean? Infamy is the state of having a bad or evil reputation—the state of being infamous. The adjective infamous means having, deserving, or resulting in a bad or evil reputation. It’s typically used to describe people, actions, and events. It’s especially used in the context of violent crimes, scandals, and tragedies. Infamous is also sometimes used in a more general way to describe things, such as behavior, as shocking, detestable, vile, heinous, or scandalous. Infamy can mean infamous behavior, or it can mean the condemnation resulting from such behavior. Sometimes, it means about the same thing as shame or disgrace. Infamy is often used interchangeably with the word notoriety, which is the state or quality of being notorious—famous or well-known for a negative reason. But while notoriety can be used in a more neutral way to mean about the same thing as fame, infamy is always used negatively and usually involves a bad reputation. Example: Their heinous crimes will live in infamy.

Related Words

See disgrace.

Etymology

Origin of infamy

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English infamye, from Latin infāmia, equivalent to infām(is) “ill-famed” ( in- in- ³ + fām(a) fame + -is adjective suffix) + -ia -y ³

Explanation

Infamy means being famous for something bad or negative. You may be hoping for fame when you get an enormous tattoo of your favorite pop star on your back, but there's a chance you'll end up with infamy instead. The noun infamy is most often used to talk about famously evil or terrible people or historical events. The day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, just before the start of World War II, was described by President Roosevelt as "a day that will live in infamy." Infamy contains the root word fame, but rather than meaning "the opposite of famous," its meaning is something closer to "fame gone bad."

Example Sentences

More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack that president Franklin D. Roosevelt said would live "in infamy."

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Martin rose to infamy brandishing legal jeopardy against his foes.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

“This is also a film about infamy, because he’s being persecuted so unfairly. He gets killed, and then they killed him again because they killed his reputation,” Moura notes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Barely a week ago, they were cheekily leaning into their infamy like a Bond nemesis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

Notoriety and infamy quickly evolve into celebrity and fame for scythes—and the most brazen acts harden further into legend.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• notoriety
• opprobrium