DictionaryAI

notorious

Saynoh-TAW-ree-uhs/nəˈtɔ.ɹi.əs/UK/nə(ʊ)ˈtɔː.ɹɪ.əs/

6 meanings of notorious

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Famous for something bad, such as a crime or bad behavior.

    Like a kid at school everyone knows for always getting in trouble.

    The notorious gangster was finally sent to prison.

    That stretch of highway is notorious for dangerous drivers.

    Similarinfamous, ill-famed

    Oppositefamous

    Note
  2. 2
    adjective
    Openly and clearly wrong in a way that offends people.

    Like cheating on a test right in front of the teacher.

    Their notorious disregard for safety rules angered the whole town.

    It was a notorious lie that everyone could see through.

    Similarflagrant, blatant, egregious, glaring, scandalous

    Note
  3. 3
    adjective
    Known by many people, so that almost everyone has heard of it, but not in a bad way.

    It is a notorious fact that summers here are extremely hot.

    Her kindness to strangers was notorious in the town, and travelers often asked for her by name.

    Similarfamous, well-known, celebrated, renowned

    Oppositeunknown, obscure

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    adjectiveobsolete
    Easy to see or understand, clear and plain.
    [T]he failing in any one of theſe [members of the body] vvould cauſe Irregularity in the Body, and in many of them ſuch as vvould be very notorious.
    1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation.Here, notorious means plain and easy for anyone to see.
    Note
  2. 5
    adjectiveobsolete
    Able to be known by many people.
    Note
  3. 6
    adverbobsolete
    In a way that is openly known or obvious.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin notus, meaning 'known' or 'well-known', which could also mean 'infamous'. English got it through Late Middle English and Medieval Latin.