notoriety

[noh-tuh-rahy-i-tee]

noun

plural

notorieties 

1. the state, quality, or character of being notorious or widely known.

   a craze for notoriety.

   Synonyms: infamy, shame, disrepute

2. Chiefly British.,  a notorious or celebrated person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of notoriety¹

1585–95; < Medieval Latin nōtōrietās, equivalent to nōtōri ( us ) notorious + -etās, variant (after -i- ) of -ity

Example Sentences

Described as a confident and skilled communicator, Weiss used her notoriety to attract investors for the Free Press, a digital media business offering newsletters, reported stories, opinion pieces and podcasts.

From Los Angeles Times

While Norwood's Instagram has been active for months, her existence gained notoriety in Hollywood this week after trade publication Deadline reported on a summit her creator presented at in Zurich over the weekend.

From BBC

The commander said motivations included money, notoriety and "trying to feel like they belong to something slightly bigger", with some already on the fringes of criminality.

From BBC

Lee holds no illusions as to whether his calling will gain him any notoriety or accolades.

From Salon

Tensions were high, perhaps because of the national notoriety of the kidnapping-murder of Charles Lindbergh’s baby a year before.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• celebrity 
• fame 
• flak 
• infamy 
• opprobrium 
• renown 
• spotlight 

When To Use

What does notoriety mean?

Notoriety is the state or quality of being famous or well-known, especially for a negative reason.If often means the state or quality of being notorious, which is especially used to describe people who are widely known and viewed unfavorably for their actions, such as notorious criminals. It can also be applied to events, as in a notorious scandal.This sense of notorious is often used interchangeably with the word infamous. Strictly speaking, infamous means having, deserving, or resulting in a bad or evil reputation, while notorious usually implies that a person is both famous and disliked. Still, they usually mean just about the same thing. A noun form of infamous, infamy, is often used interchangeably with notoriety.Notorious can also mean known for a particular trait or action, not necessarily a bad one, as in My aunt is notorious for arriving late to family events. Notoriety can refer to the state of being known in this way. In some cases, it can mean much the same thing as fame, and in fact the two words are often used side by side, as in It’s unbelievable what some people will do for fame and notoriety. Notoriety is often discussed as being earned, gained, or achieved, as in The company gained notoriety for its irreverent marketing campaigns. Example: He gained notoriety for his role in the scandal, and his reputation has never recovered.