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

Social media has intensified these dynamics, spreading images of violence, wealth, weapons and notoriety far beyond the neighborhoods and front lines where gangs and armed groups operate. — Charles Wratto, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026

Part of Kardashian’s notoriety in the early days of her fame was in part due to her exaggerated curves. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026

Krentcil first shot to national notoriety in 2012 after authorities accused her of bringing her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning bed at a New Jersey salon. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Chen said that without that notoriety, the team may have just tried to replace the cheerleaders because there are so many people willing to take jobs in the entertainment industry at low pay. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 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