definitions
  • synonyms

notorious

[ noh-tawr-ee-uh s, -tohr-, nuh- ]
/ noʊˈtɔr i əs, -ˈtoʊr-, nə- /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR notorious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

widely and unfavorably known: a notorious gambler.
publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait: a newspaper that is notorious for its sensationalism.

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RELATED WORDS

notably, infamously, spectacularly, especially

Nearby words

noto-, notochord, notogaea, notogaean, notoriety, notorious, notoriously, notornis, nototherium, notoungulate, notour

Origin of notorious

1540–50; < Medieval Latin nōtōrius evident, equivalent to nō(scere) to get to know (see notify) + -tōrius -tory1
Related formsno·to·ri·ous·ly, adverbno·to·ri·ous·ness, noun
Can be confusedfamous infamous notorious
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for notoriously

British Dictionary definitions for notoriously

notorious

/ (nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs) /

adjective

well-known for some bad or unfavourable quality, deed, etc; infamous
rare generally known or widely acknowledged
Derived Formsnotoriety (ˌnəʊtəˈraɪɪtɪ) or notoriousness, nounnotoriously, adverb

Word Origin for notorious

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

notorious

adj.

1540s, "publicly known," from Medieval Latin notorius "well-known, commonly known," from Latin notus "known," past participle of noscere "come to know" (see know). Negative connotation arose 17c. from frequent association with derogatory nouns. Related: Notoriously.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper