Notorious

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /nə(ʊ)ˈtɔː.ɹɪ.əs/

Definitions

  1. Widely known for something bad or unfavorable, especially by reputation
  2. Famous for negative reasons or widely recognized due to disreputable actions or characteristics
  3. Known for having a bad reputation or being infamous in public discourse because of undesirable qualities

Etymology: Before it took on its modern sense, the word carried a more neutral meaning related simply to being well-known or widely recognized. It entered English in the late 15th century, borrowed from the Old French "notorius," which itself came from the Latin "notorius," meaning "well-known" or "publicly known." This Latin term derived from "notus," the past participle of "nosco," meaning "to know." Thus, the original sense was tied closely to knowledge and fame without any inherent judgment about the nature of that fame. Over time, however, the word’s connotation shifted dramatically. By the 16th century, the idea of being widely known began to carry a more negative overtone, reflecting notoriety for something bad or infamous rather than merely famous. This semantic drift likely arose because people are often more motivated to talk about scandal or wrongdoing than neutral or positive fame. The shift transformed the term into one that suggests disrepute or ill fame, a meaning it retains predominantly today. Interestingly, this transformation is a good example of how words associated with public recognition can develop pejorative senses. While "famous" and "celebrated" tend to emphasize admiration, "notorious" came to highlight the opposite: notoriety as a kind of unwanted or shameful fame. This divergence reveals the power of social attitudes and context in shaping the emotional weight of words over centuries. The pronunciation, with its stress on the second syllable, reflects typical English patterns of borrowing from Latin and French. It has remained stable since the word’s adoption, reinforcing its formal and somewhat weighty character in speech. The term’s journey from neutral acknowledgment to a marker of infamy underscores the subtle ways language captures shifting cultural values about reputation.

Synonyms: infamous, renowned, disreputable

Antonyms: unknown, obscure