# notorious

/noʊˈtɔɹiəs/ (US) · /nəʊtˈɔːɹɪəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/notorious
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. famous for something bad

adjective · CEFR B2

famous or well-known for something bad or negative.

For teachers: widely known and commonly spoken of, specifically for an unfavourable or undesirable reason.

- The city is notorious for its terrible traffic during the summer months.
- The region became notorious for its unpredictable weather, which frequently disrupted the local agricultural cycle and caused significant economic losses.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'as'.

### 2. well-known or obvious

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

clearly known by everyone; impossible to hide.

For teachers: widely acknowledged or evident; used when a fact is common knowledge, often with a neutral or slightly formal tone.

- It is notorious that the two companies have been rivals for decades.
- The inefficiency of the old postal system was notorious among the local merchants, who often resorted to private couriers for urgent deliveries.

Usage: Usually used as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

## Examples

- The city is notorious for its heavy traffic.
- The restaurant became notorious for its terrible service and cold food, leading to its eventual closure.
- The region is notorious for its unpredictable weather patterns, which have historically thwarted even the most seasoned maritime explorers attempting to navigate the narrow straits.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.