Word
notoriety
Phoneticsno·to·ri·ety
US/ˌnoʊtɝˈaɪəti/
UK/nˌəʊtɔːɹˈaɪəti/
Definition
n. the state of being famous for something bad. It is the kind of attention you get when you do something wrong or shocking.
n. the state of being famous or widely known for some unfavorable act or quality. Often carries a negative connotation, distinguishing it from 'fame' or 'renown'.
Examples
“The criminal gained notoriety after the daring bank robbery.”
“The restaurant gained notoriety for its terrible service and overpriced menu items.”
“While some influencers seek fame for their talents, others lean into notoriety by intentionally sparking public controversy to remain relevant in the digital landscape.”
Examples
simple
“The criminal gained notoriety after the daring bank robbery.”
contextual
“The restaurant gained notoriety for its terrible service and overpriced menu items.”
complex
“While some influencers seek fame for their talents, others lean into notoriety by intentionally sparking public controversy to remain relevant in the digital landscape.”
Usage
Often paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the negative reputation.
Pitfall
He has a great notoriety for his charity work.
He has a great reputation for his charity work.
Notoriety is specifically for negative or bad things; use 'fame' or 'reputation' for positive things.
Real-World Examples
“In 2011, he co-founded Fat White Family, a band that gained notoriety and acclaim for their debauched behaviour.” “He carries with him an aura of celebrity – or is it notoriety?” Etymology
Derived from Middle French notoriété, from Medieval Latin nōtōrietās, from nōtōrius, from nōtus (“known”), perfect passive participle of nōscō (“get to know”). By surface analysis, notorious + -ety.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/notoriety