notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​e·​ty ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē How to pronounce notoriety (audio)
plural notorieties
Synonyms of notorietynext
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.
Locals revelled in his notoriety. James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 Neuralink’s work in that area gained notoriety after the company reportedly killed 1,500 animals in testing. Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026 The store’s presence on Knox Street had some notoriety as the first entry for Pottery Barn into Texas. Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026 Although Biss has the endorsement of beloved incumbent Jan Schakowsky, the beneficiary of an overly crowded field could be Kat Abughazaleh, a social media influencer who gained notoriety when she was indicted on charges related to a protest at the immigrant detention facility in Broadview. Marj Halperin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 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 7 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

notoriety

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

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