Word
infamous
Phoneticsin·fa·mous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnfəməs/
UK/ˈɪnfəməs/
Definitions
01famous for something bad
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. well-known for being bad, evil, or shocking.
adj. having an extremely bad reputation; widely known for some negative quality or deed.
“The city is infamous for its terrible traffic and narrow streets.”
“The pirate became infamous throughout the Caribbean for his ruthless tactics and his ability to evade the royal navy for over a decade.”
Pitfall
He is very infamous for his charity work.
He is very famous for his charity work.
Infamous is not a stronger version of famous; it specifically means famous for something bad. Use 'famous' or 'renowned' for positive things.
Antonyms
02disgraceful
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. causing a loss of respect or a bad reputation.
adj. deserving of or causing infamy; shockingly bad or disgraceful in nature.
“The dictator's infamous treatment of his people was condemned by the world.”
“The committee described the decision as an infamous betrayal of the public trust, leading to immediate calls for a full investigation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03legal loss of rights
C2 · Proficiency Law Archaic · Technical
adj. in the past, describing a person who lost their legal rights because of a crime.
adj. referring to a person deprived of certain civil rights, such as serving on a jury, as a result of a conviction for a serious crime.
“In the 1800s, certain criminals were declared infamous and could no longer vote.”
“Under the old statutes, an infamous person was barred from giving testimony in a court of law, as their character was deemed legally compromised.”
Usage
Usually applied to the legal status of a person in historical contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “infamous” in context.
Verb
01. remain infamous
“Despite the passage of time, the serial killer's crimes remain infamous in the local community.”
verb + adj
Adjective
02. infamous for corruption
“The local administration was infamous for corruption and the misappropriation of public funds.”
adj + prep + noun
03. infamous incident
“The documentary explores the infamous incident that led to the collapse of the energy giant.”
adj + noun
04. infamous reputation
“The hacker earned an infamous reputation after breaching the central bank's security system.”
adj + noun
Adverb
05. become infamous for
“The intersection has become infamous for the high number of accidents that occur there every year.”
verb + adj + prep
06. truly infamous
“The dictator's secret police were truly infamous for their brutal interrogation methods.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Famous describes someone widely known for positive or neutral reasons, while infamous describes someone widely known for negative or shameful reasons.
RememberInfamous = In for a bad reason.
Real-World Examples
“This time, Maltbie was locked in the infamous Provost , a British prison in lower Manhattan, to await his fate .” “He had been nabbed by the feds trying to sell Epstein’s infamous “little black book” for $50,000.” “The 50th anniversary is the perfect time to remember 50 of the most famous – and infamous – attempts.” Etymology
From Middle English enfamouse, in-fames, infamous, from Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis; by surface analysis, in- + famous. Displaced native Old English unhlīsful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/infamous