notoriety

noun

no·​to·​ri·​e·​ty ˌnō-tə-ˈrī-ə-tē How to pronounce notoriety (audio)
plural notorieties
1
: the quality or state of being notorious
the city's notoriety for corrupt and incompetent governmentR. E. Merriam
2
: a notorious person
love to have notabilities and notorieties under one roofThe Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of notoriety in a Sentence

He achieved instant fame and notoriety with the release of his film. She gained notoriety when nude photographs of her appeared in a magazine. His comment about the President has given him a notoriety that he enjoys very much.
Recent Examples on the Web Before Carlos Ghosn gained notoriety for dramatically escaping house arrest in Japan in an audio equipment box, accused by Nissan of underreporting compensation and other serious charges as CEO, he was widely regarded as one of the most innovative leaders in the auto industry. Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 One of the ethical concerns raised by retellings of serial murders is that the killers themselves become mythic figures, steeped in a glamorized notoriety. Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Like Beyonce and Madonna before her, shorthand popularly used names evidence notoriety and prestige. Chris Deubert, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 At the time, the peaceful transition was seen as precedent setting in a continent that had gained notoriety for political violence as the prime agent of change or succession. Alan Cowell, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 While not exactly financial windfalls, the resulting notoriety as a bonafide Warhol Superstar earned her Richard Avedon photo spreads in Vogue and entry into the back room of Max’s Kansas City, the late-night eatery where the hippest downtown denizens congregated. Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 Images of armed Black Panther Party members in leather jackets and berets outside the Capitol swept the nation and brought the group more fame, funding and notoriety. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 The 27-year-old Londoner first gained notoriety (and a girlfriend) for playing the half-hot-half-terrifying Essex scammer on the second season of The White Lotus. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2024 For the Asbury Park, N.J., native — who first gained notoriety as a radio shock jock in the ’90s —The Wendy Williams Show had been a source of pride since its 2008 debut. Brianne Tracy, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'notoriety.' 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 French or Medieval Latin; Middle French notorieté, from Medieval Latin notorietat-, notorietas, from notorius

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of notoriety was circa 1650

Dictionary Entries Near notoriety

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

notoriety

noun
no·​to·​ri·​ety
ˌnōt-ə-ˈrī-ət-ē
plural notorieties
: the quality or state of being notorious

More from Merriam-Webster on notoriety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!