notorious
nuh-TOR-ee-uhs
/noʊˈtɔːriəs/
Widely and unfavorably known, especially for something bad or disgraceful.
Unlike 'famous,' which is positive, 'notorious' is strictly negative, though it carries a sense of being widely recognized or celebrated for mischief or crime.
The story behind the word. The word notorious comes from the Medieval Latin 'notorius', which simply meant 'well-known' or 'active'. Over time, as human nature dictates that bad news travels faster than good, the word drifted from a neutral description of being known to a negative description of being known for something bad.
Word relationships
- infamous: Infamous carries a stronger sense of moral outrage and historical shame, whereas notorious simply means widely known for something bad.
- illustrious: Illustrious means highly distinguished, renowned, and celebrated for positive achievements.
Commonly confused with
- famous: Famous is positive or neutral, whereas notorious is strictly negative.
Word family
- notoriety (noun): The state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed.
Collocations
- notorious criminal
- notorious for
- notorious reputation
- notorious gang
Example sentences
- "He was a man of notorious character, and his reputation was of the worst." A classic detective novel describing a criminal's reputation
- "The notorious hacker group managed to bypass the government's firewall." A modern discussion of internet security
Memory hook
Think of 'no-tori-ous' as 'no story is good' about this person. They are known for all the wrong reasons. Known for the wrong reasons.
When not to use
Do not use 'notorious' when you simply mean 'famous' or 'well-known' in a positive or neutral context, as it implies a bad reputation.
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, notorious could still be used in a positive sense to mean 'generally known' or 'obvious', but by the 17th century, the negative meaning had completely taken over.
Related words
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