notoriety
n. uncountablen. 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'.
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.
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.
Often paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the negative reputation.
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.