notorious
gb/noʊtˈɔɹiəs/ us/noʊtˈɔɹiəs/
B2
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
widely known for something bad
Well known by many people in a bad or negative way.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] is notorious for [something/doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'notorious' with 'famous'. Both mean 'well known', but 'notorious' is almost always negative, used for bad behavior, crime, scandals, or very unpleasant qualities. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: it is correct to say 'notorious for something', not 'notorious of something' or 'notorious about something'.
Synonyms
infamous (Very close in meaning, but can sound slightly more formal or dramatic.)
|
disreputable (Focuses more on having a bad reputation rather than simply being widely known.)
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ill‑famed (Less common and slightly literary; very similar meaning but not frequent in everyday speech.)
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noted (for) (Often neutral or positive; can be negative in some contexts, so it does not always carry the strong negative feeling of 'notorious'.)
Antonyms
respected (Known and thought of in a good or honorable way, the opposite of being known for bad things.)
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admired (Widely known and looked up to, not known for something bad.)
Collocations
notorious criminal
|notorious killer
|notorious liar
|notorious for [something]
|notorious gang
|notorious case
Themes
reputation
|crime
|character
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The city is notorious for its heavy traffic and endless roadworks.
- He was a notorious criminal who had escaped from prison twice.
- The company became notorious after the scandal over fake safety tests.
- This stretch of road is notorious for serious accidents in winter.
- The restaurant is notorious for its terrible service but excellent food.
Learner examples
- The club is notorious for loud music all night.
- That politician is notorious for telling lies on TV.
- This website is notorious for spreading false news.
- The bar was notorious for fights every weekend.
- The old factory is notorious for its bad smell.
Grammar
Dictionary form
notorious
IPA
GB/noʊtˈɔɹiəs/
US/noʊtˈɔɹiəs/
Syllables & stress
no - tori - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tori)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: notorious
Word family
Core family
notoriety
noun C1
notoriously
adverb C1
Expressions
be notorious as
1/bˈi noʊtˈɔɹiəs ˈæz/
fixed phrase
be widely known as a bad kind
To be well known in a bad way as a certain kind of person or thing.
Examples
- He is notorious as a ruthless business rival.
- The building is notorious as a hideout for local gangs.
be notorious for
1/bˈi noʊtˈɔɹiəs fɚ/
fixed phrase
be widely known for something bad
To be well known in a bad way because of a particular thing or action.
Examples
- The area is notorious for street crime after dark.
- That singer is notorious for arriving late to every concert.