# notorious

Pronunciation: say "noh-TAW-ree-uhs" US /nəˈtɔ.ɹi.əs/, UK /nə(ʊ)ˈtɔː.ɹɪ.əs/

## Adjective

1. Widely known among the public for something bad, such as a crime or scandal; infamous.
   - Simple: Famous for something bad, such as a crime or bad behavior.
   - _The region became notorious for widespread political corruption._
   - _He was a notorious con artist who swindled hundreds of small investors._
2. Of an act or situation, obviously and offensively blameworthy; blatant or flagrant.
   - Simple: Openly and clearly wrong in a way that offends people.
   - _The company's notorious neglect of its workers led to a federal investigation._
   - _His notorious abuse of office was condemned by both parties._
3. Known generally or widely, so that it is part of common knowledge; famous, with a neutral or favorable sense rather than a bad one.
   - Simple: Known by many people, so that almost everyone has heard of it, but not in a bad way.
   - _It is a notorious truth that the river floods every spring._
   - _She was a notorious beauty, celebrated throughout the court._

## Adjective

4. Plainly clear, evident, or obvious to anyone observing. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Easy to see or understand, clear and plain.
5. Generally or widely knowable; able to be found out by many people. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Able to be known by many people.

## Adverb

6. In a manner that is generally or openly known; notoriously. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In a way that is openly known or obvious.

## Origin

From Late Middle English notoryous, via Medieval Latin nōtōrius ('well-known, famous, infamous'), from Latin nōtus ('known, recognized, famous, infamous'). Nōtus is the perfect passive participle of nōscō ('to become acquainted with, learn about'), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- ('to know, recognize').

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/notorious (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).