infamous

adjective

in·​fa·​mous ˈin-fə-məs How to pronounce infamous (audio)
1
: having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil
an infamous traitor
2
: causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful
an infamous crime
3
: convicted of an offense bringing infamy
infamously adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is being infamous always a bad thing?

Infamous has a small range of meanings, and none of them are ones that most people would care to be described with. It may mean "notoriously evil," "disgraceful," or "convicted of an offense bringing infamy" (infamy is "evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal").

Is infamous the opposite of famous?

Infamous is not the opposite of famous. It does not mean "not famous" or "exceptionally famous." It means "having a reputation of the worst kind." Although the in- prefix often indicates negation or gives a meaning opposite to the word it is attached to, it occasionally will have other meanings, such as "inward" and "thoroughly."

What is the difference between unfamous and infamous?

Although it would appear that both of these words are created by adding a similar prefix to the word famous, they actually have quite different meanings. Infamous means "notoriously evil," whereas unfamous simply means "not famous." Infamous is by far the more commonly-used of the two.

Examples of infamous in a Sentence

The most infamous of South America's poisonous snakes are the ringed coral snake and the pit viper. Candice Millard, The River of Doubt, 2005
Clemens is famous, or maybe infamous, for his brushback pitches and in particular for his penchant for "doubling up," throwing two brushbacks in a row. Pat Jordan, New York Times Magazine, 4 Mar. 2001
Instead we invoke the infamous dark matter, also known to make up most of the mass of other galaxies (both spiral and elliptical), clusters of galaxies, and the universe. What is it? Your guess may not be quite as good as mine, but almost. Virginia Trimble et al., Sky & Telescope, January 1995
a city infamous for poverty and crime He committed an infamous crime.
Recent Examples on the Web And speaking of newborns and their infamous blowouts, the seat fabric is all removable and safe to toss in the washer and dryer. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Drowning in endless sand Another major issue is the infamous lack of water on Arrakis. Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 The film centers on the real-life Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his family, who live bucolic and seemingly mundane lives next door to the infamous concentration camp. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 The View was a fitting place for Moreno to make the claim, as the show has long hosted infamous squabbles among its cohosts — including an iconic 2007 clash between Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, which the show recently referenced during a mock Double Dare trivia game last week. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024 April festivals Come-See-Me Festival Date: April 11-20 Time: Varies Location: Rock Hill, SC (multiple locations) Cost: Varies Rock Hill’s infamous spring kick off event, the Come-See-Me Festival, is back again this year. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 Wearing a black lace Balenciaga dress with a long train and an open back and her hair styled in a sleek high ponytail, Kardashian, 43, evoked the infamous matriarch in strides. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 The infamous live-action Death Note movie had a 36% from critics and a 23% from fans. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 To clink champagne glasses with the players, make your way over to the St. Regis Aspen Resort, an official sponsor of the event (and home to the infamous party palace Snow Lodge, the winter iteration of Montauk’s Surf Lodge). Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infamous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin infamis, from in- + fama fame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infamous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near infamous

Cite this Entry

“Infamous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infamous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

infamous

adjective
in·​fa·​mous ˈin-fə-məs How to pronounce infamous (audio)
1
: having an evil reputation
an infamous traitor
2
: causing or bringing an evil reputation : detestable
an infamous crime
infamously adverb

Legal Definition

infamous

adjective
in·​fa·​mous ˈin-fə-məs How to pronounce infamous (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a crime punishable by imprisonment (as a year or more in a penitentiary) that can lead to loss of rights and privileges upon conviction
also : convicted of such a crime

More from Merriam-Webster on infamous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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