ENGLISH
REFERENCE

infamous

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈɪnfəməs// UK //ˈɪnfəməs// in·fa·mous Archaic

adj. well-known for something bad. You use this to describe a person or place that has a very poor reputation.

adj. well-known for some bad quality or deed; having an extremely bad reputation.


SIMPLE

The city is infamous for its terrible traffic.

CONTEXTUAL

The infamous pirate was known for his cruelty and his refusal to show mercy to captured crews.

COMPLEX

The prison became infamous for its harsh conditions and the frequent escapes attempted by its most desperate inmates during the mid-twentieth century.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English enfamouse, in-fames, infamous, from Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis; by surface analysis, in- + famous. Displaced native Old English unhlīsful.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective following a linking verb.

Pitfall

He is very infamous for his charity work.He is very famous for his charity work.Infamous does not mean 'very famous'; it specifically means famous for something negative or wicked.

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