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View synonyms for notorious

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

/ nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs; ˌnəʊtəˈraɪɪtɪ /

adjective

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

  • notoriety, noun
  • noˈtoriously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • no·to·ri·ous·ly adverb
  • no·to·ri·ous·ness noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of notorious1

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

The trial pulled the curtain back on rifts within one of the LAPD’s most storied — and notorious — units.

Biker gangs are notorious in Australia for their drug violence, with more than 1,000 shootings recorded since the 1980s.

From BBC

A notorious Gazan criminal family later blocked the main road leading away from Kerem Shalom for two days, erecting iron barriers and reportedly firing on lorries trying to access an aid distribution point.

From BBC

The brash, confident, boisterous traits his "notorious" brand is now synonymous with were untraceable.

From BBC

Tel Aviv University has renamed a prestigious prize it awards, removing the name of a family notorious for its role in the U.S. opioid epidemic.

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More About Notorious

What does notorious mean?

Notorious most commonly means famous or well-known for a negative reason.

The word 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.

Notorious can also mean known for a particular trait or action, not necessarily a bad one. For example, you might be notorious for wearing the same outfit every Friday, or your aunt might be notorious for arriving late to family events.

The state or quality of being notorious is notoriety.

Example: The island prison known as Alcatraz was known for holding some of America’s most notorious criminals.

Where does notorious come from?

The first records of the word notorious come from the mid-1500s. It comes from the Medieval Latin word nōtōrius, meaning “well-known” or “public,” from the Late Latin nōtōria, meaning “news” or “a notice,” and nōtōrium, “a criminal charge.” It’s ultimately rooted in the Latin verb nōscere, “to know.”

Notorious people are known for something specific, and it’s usually not something good. Often, the worse the thing is, the more notorious the person is. That’s why the word is most closely associated with violent criminals whose crimes are widely known.

Still, the word isn’t always used in a completely negative way. Among the people who know you, you can be notorious for something neutral or something that’s only slightly bad, like being notorious for pulling pranks or not washing your dishes.

In popular culture, notorious is known for its use in the stage name of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), which later inspired a nickname for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg based on her initials: The Notorious R.B.G.

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What are some other forms related to notorious?

  • notoriously (adverb)
  • notoriousness (noun)
  • notoriety (noun)

What are some synonyms for notorious?

What are some words that share a root or word element with notorious

What are some words that often get used in discussing notorious?

How is notorious used in real life?

Notorious is most commonly used in a negative way, but it can also be used to describe someone as well-known for a particular trait, not necessarily a bad one.

 

Try using notorious!

True or False?

Notorious can be used interchangeably with the word infamous.

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