Word
notoriously
Phoneticsno·to·ri·ous·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/noʊˈtɔɹiəsɫi/
UK/nəʊtˈɔːɹɪəsli/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. used to describe something that is famous for being bad or difficult. You use it when everyone knows about a negative quality.
adv. used to emphasise that a quality or fact, typically a negative one, is widely known or famous.
Examples
“The weather in this city is notoriously unpredictable.”
“The local government is notoriously slow at processing new building permits, often taking months to respond.”
“While the author's prose is celebrated for its beauty, his personal life was notoriously chaotic, marked by frequent public arguments and financial instability.”
Examples
simple
“The weather in this city is notoriously unpredictable.”
contextual
“The local government is notoriously slow at processing new building permits, often taking months to respond.”
complex
“While the author's prose is celebrated for its beauty, his personal life was notoriously chaotic, marked by frequent public arguments and financial instability.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “notoriously” in context.
Usage
Typically placed before the adjective it modifies to highlight a well-known negative trait.
Real-World Examples
“Researchers have found a clever new way to map a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere that is notoriously difficult to observe.” “Engineers have transformed a notoriously brittle cobalt-aluminum compound into a material that is both extremely strong and capable of bending without breaking.” “These sources are called Galactic PeVatrons, and they are notoriously hard to pin down.” Etymology
From Middle English notoryously, equivalent to notorious + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/notoriously