notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​e·​ty ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē How to pronounce notoriety (audio)
plural notorieties
1
: the quality or state of being notorious
… the city's notoriety for corrupt and incompetent government.R. E. Merriam
2
: a notorious person
… the errors of notorieties and crowned heads …James Joyce

Examples of notoriety in a Sentence

He achieved instant fame and notoriety with the release of his film. She gained notoriety when nude photographs of her appeared in a magazine. His comment about the President has given him a notoriety that he enjoys very much.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The show has a harder time tracing the arc of Guiteau, a man who, sensing that acclaim won’t be attainable, is happy enough to settle for notoriety. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025 The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department was unable to find a motive behind the shooting other than notoriety, according to its final report. Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 8 Nov. 2025 L’Abbate says the 2013 charges and resulting notoriety spelled the end of Accent Wealth Development. Karen Wang, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025 The former child star landed a role on Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire at 13 in 2001 and gained further notoriety for roles in A Cinderella Story, Agent Cody Banks, Cheaper By The Dozen, Cadet Kelly and The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for notoriety

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French notorieté, from Medieval Latin notorietat-, notorietas, from notorius

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of notoriety was circa 1650

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Cite this Entry

“Notoriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notoriety. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

notoriety

noun
no·​to·​ri·​ety
ˌnōt-ə-ˈrī-ət-ē
plural notorieties
: the quality or state of being notorious

More from Merriam-Webster on notoriety

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