well-known
Americanadjective
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clearly or fully known.
The well-known reasons are obvious.
-
generally or widely known.
a well-known painting.
- Synonyms:
- celebrated, noted, famous, prominent
adjective
-
widely known; famous; celebrated
-
known fully or clearly
Etymology
Origin of well-known
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hackers from a well-known cyber criminal group have accessed a "significant amount" of personal student data held by the University of Nottingham.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
There’s no evidence that well-known women using social media and public appearances to sell their audiences on GenAI have any ill intent, or that they’re shills for AI companies.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
Nestlé is exploring selling well-known brands, including sparkling-water company San Pellegrino and the rest of its stake in ice cream maker Häagen-Dazs.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Stocks’ performance during the 2022 World Cup is just one data point, but it’s consistent with the historical record, according to a well-known study that analyzed how sports sentiment impacts the stock market.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
The code was based on a well-known book owned by both André and Arnold: Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
