adj
notorious
nuh-TAW-rih-uhs
adj
1
Famous or well known for something bad.
"The city was notorious for its high crime rate."
"He was a notorious con artist in the 1920s."
2
Widely and clearly known; obvious (a more neutral, less common use).
"It is a notorious fact that the bridge was poorly built."
How to Use Notorious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWell known, almost always for something bad or scandalous.
Common mistake
Usually negative — don't use "notorious" to praise someone the way you'd use "famous" or "renowned."
Common pairings
notorious for
notoriously difficult
notorious criminal
Word Forms
more notorious comparative, more notorious comparative, most notorious superlative, most notorious superlative
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The city was _____ for its high crime rate.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin notorius ("well-known, evident"), from Latin notus ("known"), the perfect participle of noscere ("to become acquainted with").