infamy

[in-fuh-mee]

noun

plural

infamies 

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.

infamy

/ ˈɪnfəmɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being infamous

2. an infamous act or event

Word History and Origins

Origin of infamy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of infamy¹

C15: from Latin infāmis of evil repute, from _in- ¹ + fāma _fame

Synonym Study

See disgrace.

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If it weren’t for Flowers’ touchdown, the Coliseum League decider — which could have been King/Drew’s first as a program since it launched in 2022 — could have gone down an infamy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Shelley wrote “Frankenstein,” Edinburgh had gained infamy as a site of murders and grave robberies that helped fuel a thriving trade in cadavers centered on the city’s laboratories and research hospitals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Friends of Falls of Clyde, a group of supporters in Hawaii, described it as "a day that will go down in infamy".

Read more on BBC

He ripped off one big run, then another, sprinting his way into Trojan infamy in the midst of a statement victory.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• notoriety 
• opprobrium 

When To Use

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.