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notoriety
[ noh-tuh-rahy-i-tee ]
noun
- the state, quality, or character of being notorious or widely known:
a craze for notoriety.
Synonyms: , ,
- Chiefly British. a notorious or celebrated person.
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of notoriety1
Example Sentences
The question is whether it will be a legacy of achievement or one of notoriety.
Judge Mrs Justice Cutts told Winchester Crown Court that Saadi had chosen to deny his guilt because he wanted the "notoriety of a trial" and had a "complete lack of remorse".
"The level of social networking, the pursuit of notoriety within the networks, and the speed of moving to the most extreme harms, is new and shocking."
Allen gained notoriety as one of the ringleaders of what remains Britain's biggest ever armed robbery.
Prison governors said two prisoners had been planning to assault him to "gain kudos and notoriety".
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More About Notoriety
What doesÌýnotoriety mean?
Notoriety is the state or quality of being famous or well-known, especially for a negative reason.
If often means the state or quality of being notorious, which is especially used to describe people who are widely known and viewed unfavorably for their actions, such as notorious criminals. It can also be applied to events, as in a notorious scandal.
This sense of notorious is often used interchangeably with the word infamous. Strictly speaking, infamous means having, deserving, or resulting in a bad or evil reputation, while notorious usually implies that a person is both famous and disliked. Still, they usually mean just about the same thing. A noun form of infamous, infamy, is often used interchangeably with notoriety.
Notorious can also mean known for a particular trait or action, not necessarily a bad one, as in My aunt is notorious for arriving late to family events.Ìý
Notoriety can refer to the state of being known in this way. In some cases, it can mean much the same thing as fame, and in fact the two words are often used side by side, as in It’s unbelievable what some people will do for fame and notoriety.Ìý
Notoriety is often discussed as being earned, gained, or achieved, as in The company gained notoriety for its irreverent marketing campaigns.Ìý
Example: He gained notoriety for his role in the scandal, and his reputation has never recovered.
Where doesÌýnotoriety come from?
The first records of the word notoriety come from the 1500s. It comes from the Medieval Latin word ²ÔųÙÅ°ù¾±us, meaning “well-known†or “public,†from the Late Latin ²ÔųÙÅ°ù¾±a, meaning “news†or “a notice,†and ²ÔųÙÅ°ù¾±um, “a criminal charge.†It’s ultimately rooted in the Latin verb ²ÔŲõ³¦±ð°ù±ð, “to know.†Its ending is a variant of the suffix -ity, which is used to form nouns involving a state or condition.
Notoriety involves a person being known for something specific, and it’s usually not something good. Often, the worse the thing is, the more notoriety the person has. That’s why the word is most closely associated with people like violent criminals whose crimes are widely known. Still, the word isn’t always used in a completely negative way.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to notoriety?
- notorieties (plural)
- notorious (adjective)
What are some synonyms for notoriety?
What are some words that share a root or word element with notoriety?Ìý
What are some words that often get used in discussing notoriety?
How isÌýnotoriety used in real life?
Notoriety commonly refers to the state of being famous for a negative reason, but it can also be used more generally to refer to the state of being well-known for something.
“You admittedly carefully planned and executed the murder of a world-famous person for no reason other than to gain notoriety,†New York’s parole board said in its decision.
— HuffPost (@HuffPost)
In the early 70s, my folks' friends earned notoriety for painting their house like this.
— Esther Schindler (@estherschindler)
Knowing the things people will do for fame and notoriety, makes me grateful for my simple life.
— Kenneth Sanders (@KennySanders)
Ìý
Try usingÌýnotoriety!
True or False?
Notoriety can be used interchangeably with the word infamy.
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