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

It’s also gained notoriety among retail investors this year, data on net flows from this group compiled by Vanda Research shows. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024

Looks, moves, rivalries, gossip and notoriety have always been factors in celebrity for movie stars and pop performers alike. —Jon Pareles, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024

Mangione has gained both notoriety and support following the murder and his arrest. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Watching the rearview mirror to see which other organizations are gaining notoriety or resting on your past achievements is only a distraction. —Howard Schiffer, Forbes, 18 Dec. 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