notoriety

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noun no·to·ri·e·ty \ ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē \

Definition of notoriety

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)

See notoriety defined for English-language learners

See notoriety defined for kids

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 of notoriety from the Web

Despite all the success and notoriety, Harrell remains as grounded as ever, according to Marist coach Ron Dawczak.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Countdown to football: Delonte Harrell, Marist No. 1 in preseason," 24 Aug. 2017
The notoriety had no discernible effect on his relationship with Jimmy DeLaurentis, said Ingemi and other police sources.

— george anastasia, Philly.com, "From the archives: Key witness? Wiseguy Ron Previte," 7 Aug. 2017
His time at EMCC was chronicled at on the Netflix series Last Chance U, which led to both notoriety and criticism.

— wesley sinor, AL.com, "What to expect from Auburn's first scrimmage," 6 Aug. 2017
The Lord of Light Also known as R’hllor, the Lord of Light is a god worshipped mainly in Essos, but thanks to people like Melisandre and Thoros of Myr, he's gained a little bit of notoriety in Westeros.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "A Guide to the Many Religions on Game of Thrones," 13 July 2017
TV: In the movie, Ellen gains a lot of notoriety on Tumblr.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Lily Collins on Netflix Film "To The Bone" and Eating Disorder Awareness," 12 July 2017
The state gained a particularly dark brand of notoriety when a 2014 Department of Justice report detailed the state’s troubling statistics regarding rape and subsequent convictions.

— jessica blankenship, Glamour, "Montana Finally Gets With the Times, Adds Consent to Rape Laws," 11 July 2017
In was during that period that his impassioned statements for help following the storm earned him national notoriety.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Garland Robinette, N.O. broadcasting legend, announces retirement," 7 July 2017
Still, his notoriety slowed the pace of the first day of jury selection in federal court in downtown Brooklyn.

— patricia hurtado, Bloomberg.com, "Shkreli's Jury Pool Calls Him ‘an Evil Man’ and ‘a Snake’," 26 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'notoriety.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of notoriety

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1650

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notoriety Synonyms

Synonyms

big name, cause célèbre (also cause celebre), celeb, figure, icon (also ikon), light, luminary, megastar, name, notability, notable, celebrity, personage, personality, somebody, standout, star, superstar, VIP

Antonyms

nobody, noncelebrity

Related Words

favorite, heartthrob, hero, idol; demigod, dignitary, eminence, immortal, monument, pillar, worthy; baron, big shot, bigwig, kahuna, magnate, mogul, nabob, panjandrum

Near Antonyms

lightweight, mediocrity; has-been

NOTORIETY Defined for English Language Learners

notoriety

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noun

Definition of notoriety for English Language Learners

: the condition of being famous or well-known especially for something bad : the state of being notorious

NOTORIETY Defined for Kids

notoriety

play

noun no·to·ri·e·ty \ ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē \

Definition of notoriety for Students

:the state of being widely known especially for some bad characteristic

He gained notoriety with the film.

Learn More about notoriety

See words that rhyme with notoriety Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for notoriety Spanish Central: Translation of notoriety Nglish: Translation of notoriety for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of notoriety for Arabic speakers

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notoriety

Definition of notoriety

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Examples of notoriety in a Sentence

Recent Examples of notoriety from the Web

Origin and Etymology of notoriety

notoriety Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

NOTORIETY Defined for English Language Learners

notoriety

Definition of notoriety for English Language Learners

NOTORIETY Defined for Kids

notoriety

Definition of notoriety for Students

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