notorious

adjective

no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs How to pronounce notorious (audio)
nə-
: generally known and talked of
iron is a notorious conductor of heatLewis Mumford
especially : widely and unfavorably known
a notorious gangster
an area notorious for soot, smog, and dust Pliotron

Did you know?

For those who don’t give a hang about a bad reputation, being notorious for unpopular behavior is no biggie. (Being notorious for topping the Billboard charts? Now that's a Biggie.) Although notorious (which comes from Latin noscere, "to come to know") can be a synonym of famous, it's more often a synonym of infamous, having long ago developed the additional implication of someone or something disreputable. The Book of Common Prayer of 1549 includes one of the first known uses of the unfavorable meaning in print, referring to "notorious synners." You know what they say: more notorious synners, more problems.

Choose the Right Synonym for notorious

famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide.

famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

Examples of notorious in a Sentence

The coach is notorious for his violent outbursts. a notorious mastermind of terrorist activities
Recent Examples on the Web The project could prove a positive leading indicator for a school district better known for struggling to catch up, and notorious for costly technological misfires. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 In an ironic twist, some of the rebel groups most notorious for narcotics production and smuggling are today taking credit for pushing out the scammers. TIME, 21 Mar. 2024 Last year, the group hijacked events featuring Biden administration officials and shut down a gala honoring notorious ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024 Having a clean carpet can improve the air quality in your home, as carpets are a notorious haven for allergens. USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Lower down, a police operation was also in course in the territory of notorious gang leader and former police officer Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbeque. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 The first trial was notorious for prosecutors’ assertion that Woodward, who is gay, was jealous of Houts’ relationship with Woodward’s male roommate. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 But the movie industry is notorious for learning precisely the wrong lesson from its successes, not to mention failures. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Americans are notorious for their poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'notorious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin notorius, from Late Latin notorium information, indictment, from Latin noscere to come to know — more at know

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of notorious was in 1534

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Dictionary Entries Near notorious

Cite this Entry

“Notorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notorious. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

notorious

adjective
no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtōr-ē-əs How to pronounce notorious (audio)
nə-,
-ˈtȯr-
: generally known and talked of
especially : widely and unfavorably known
notoriously adverb

Legal Definition

notorious

adjective
no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtōr-ē-əs How to pronounce notorious (audio)
: generally known and talked of
adverse possession created by open, continuous, notorious, and adverse use

More from Merriam-Webster on notorious

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