Renown

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈnaʊn/

Definitions

1. Widespread fame and recognition for exceptional achievements or qualities
2. A state of being widely acclaimed and respected due to noteworthy accomplishments or characteristics
3. The condition of being famous and esteemed for remarkable talents or contributions in a specific area

Etymology: "Renown" comes from Old French "renoun," which meant the fame or reputation that comes from being talked about. Its ancestor, "renom" in modern French, still carries that sense. The word is built from the prefix "re-," meaning "again" or "back," and "noun," an old form of "name," so the core idea is a name that is repeated or passed back and forth among people. Fame, in other words, was originally pictured as a name being spoken again and again. The English word thus describes a name echoing through a community rather than any personal quality. It is a close relative of "nom" and "nominal," which share the same Latin root "nomen." Its literal sense of a repeated name is easy to miss today, when "renown" almost always suggests a widely celebrated reputation.

Synonyms: fame, reputation, celebrity

Antonyms: obscurity, infamy, shame