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

… the errors of notorieties and crowned heads …

—James Joyce

Synonyms of notoriety

• celebrity
• star
• personality

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

Sun gained notoriety in part for his purchase of a $6 million banana art piece -- an actual piece of fruit duct-taped to a wall -- and has since invested in both World Liberty Financial and the president's meme coin, called $TRUMP. —Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

But its notoriety largely stems from its famous residents. —Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2026

Through a surreal odyssey that spans a century, the hero searches for his identity and navigates the highs and lows of fame and notoriety. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

If a publisher wanted to gain notoriety by publishing one of her books, there’s nothing to stop them. —Janelle Ash , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for notoriety

• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• sobriety
• society
• variety
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• contrariety
• impropriety
• inebriety

Kids Definition

notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​ety

ˌnōt-ə-ˈrī-ət-ē

plural notorieties

: the quality or state of being notorious