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

Among such ateliers is Icon 4×4, which has gained notoriety over the years for its Ford Bronco and Toyota Land Cruiser builds. —Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2025

Ashur’s gladiators, especially the ambitious Tarchon (Jordi Webber) and Korris, are eager to bask in the notoriety, riches and freedoms a champion status would bring them. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025

Penned by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, the musical follows killers Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two murderesses who use their criminal notoriety to find fame in the Vaudeville circuit. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025

Earning a star can bring instant, global notoriety to a restaurant. —Neal Riley, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

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

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

Kids Definition

notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​ety

ˌnōt-ə-ˈrī-ət-ē

plural notorieties

: the quality or state of being notorious