notorious

adjective

no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs 

nə-

: generally known and talked of

… iron is a notorious conductor of heat …

—Lewis Mumford

especially : widely and unfavorably known

a notorious gangster

an area notorious for soot, smog, and dust

—Pliotron

Did you know?

For those who don’t give a fig about a bad reputation, being notorious for unpopular behavior is no biggie. (Being notorious for topping the Billboard charts? Now that’s a Biggie.) Although notorious (which comes from Latin noscere, “to come to know”) can be a synonym of famous, it’s more often a synonym of infamous, having long ago developed the additional implication of someone or something disreputable. The Book of Common Prayer of 1549 includes one of the first known uses of the unfavorable meaning in print, referring to “notorious synners.” You know what they say: more notorious synners, more problems.

Synonyms of notorious

• infamous
• shady
• criminal

Choose the Right Synonym for notorious

famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide.

famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

Examples of notorious in a Sentence

The coach is notorious for his violent outbursts.

a notorious mastermind of terrorist activities

Recent Examples on the Web

The now-notorious Gosselin family of Jon & Kate Plus 8 was secular to the point of the titular couple divorcing, and multiple Gosselin children have since leveled horrific allegations of abuse against their mother. —Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026

On Tuesday night, the breach notification service Have I Been Pwned first flagged the incident, a couple days after the notorious hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026

Perhaps the most notorious example is Carrie and Big’s on-and-off again fling in Sex and the City, which stretched across six seasons and two movies, causing no shortage of headaches for the girls. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 Mar. 2026

While not as notorious as the Boston Strangler or the Zodiac Killer, several serial killers preyed on people recreating outdoors. —Katie Jackson, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin notorius, from Late Latin notorium information, indictment, from Latin noscere to come to know — more at know

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for notorious

• inglorious
• laborious
• sartorius
• uproarious
• vainglorious
• victorious
• glorious
• meritorious

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

notorious

adjective

no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtōr-ē-əs 

nə-, 

-ˈtȯr-

: generally known and talked of

especially : widely and unfavorably known

notoriously adverb

Legal Definition

notorious

adjective

no·​to·​ri·​ous nō-ˈtōr-ē-əs 

: generally known and talked of

adverse possession created by open, continuous, notorious, and adverse use