notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​e·​ty ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē 

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

love to have notabilities and notorieties under one roof

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Synonyms

• cause célèbre
• cause celebre
• celeb
• celebrity
• figure
• icon
• ikon
• light
• luminary
• megastar
• name
• notability
• notable
• personage
• personality
• somebody
• standout
• star
• superstar
• VIP

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

Jane Manchu Wong, who gained online notoriety for reverse-engineering incoming features for social media platforms before they were announced, joined Meta last year to work on its newest platform, Threads. —Kali Hays, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024

The case drew wide attention at the time, turning the Beverly Hills brothers into household names and earning them nationwide notoriety. —Andrew Blankstein, NBC News, 16 Oct. 2024

Celebrities gain notoriety based on the popularity of their projects and professional achievements. —Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Justin Sun is a controversial figure The Chinese entrepreneur has gained notoriety for his outspoken nature and involvement in various controversies. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 10 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​ety

ˌnōt-ə-ˈrī-ət-ē

plural notorieties

: the quality or state of being notorious