Notoriety

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Notoriety" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the state of being famous or well-known, typically for some bad quality or deed. Example: "The politician gained notoriety after the scandal was revealed, leading to widespread public outrage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Robinson insisted that Knox was hired on merit rather than notoriety.

The Guardian

The notoriety of Channel 4's documentary Benefits Street has left the show's producers facing an uphill task trying to persuade people to take part in a second series as well as a spin-off programme about immigration.

The Guardian

Here is someone who obviously wants the attention, but is not shown because the brief notoriety will only encourage others.

The Guardian - Opinion

Zawahiri will seek to leverage the notoriety to reinvigorate the militant franchise that has been marginalised by this year's Arab spring revolutions in the Middle East and weakened by the loss of Bin Laden, who is suspected by intelligence sources of having been in greater control of day-to-day operations than previously thought.

The Guardian

Allan is a Black Angel, the leader of a group he started six years ago, which has since attracted steady publicity, and a peculiar notoriety.

The Guardian

He was swiftly attracting notoriety with his explicit nude studies.

The Guardian - Arts

Despite steadily escalating its attacks in recent years, Boko Haram – whose name means "western education is forbidden" – achieved worldwide notoriety last April when it abducted the girls from their school in Borno state.

The Guardian

Jana Kramer gained notoriety as an actor on One Tree Hill, but she's been making inroads in country music for a few years now.

The Guardian - Music

In the modern era, the "plastination" of Gunther von Hagens, which makes of human corpses crafty if not arty objects, has attracted great notoriety.

The Guardian - Arts

The twins' enduring notoriety has helped to create a thriving market in Kray-related memorabilia.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Despite the notoriety of Cape Fear, Bergen only made four further features in the 60s, before a 20-year gap.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "notoriety" when you want to emphasize being widely known for negative or undesirable reasons. It's stronger than simply having a 'bad reputation'.

Common error

Don't use "notoriety" when you mean simple fame. "Notoriety" specifically implies a negative or scandalous reason for being well-known, whereas fame can be for positive achievements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "notoriety" is as a noun. It typically functions as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the state of being known for unfavorable reasons. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "notoriety" is a noun used to describe the state of being famous or well-known for a negative reason. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and very common, frequently appearing in news and media sources. It's crucial to use "notoriety" when you want to emphasize negative recognition, differentiating it from simple fame. Remember that phrases like "ill fame" or "infamy" can serve as effective alternatives depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey. Use "notoriety" to precisely convey a negative form of fame.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill fame

Focuses on negative reputation; similar but emphasizes the bad reputation aspect.

infamy

Highlights a state of being known for evil acts; more intense and negative.

disrepute

Implies loss of good reputation; focuses on damage to one's standing.

bad reputation

A straightforward description of having a negative public image.

unfavorable reputation

A more formal way to describe a negative public image.

dishonor

Emphasizes a loss of honor or respect, often due to shameful actions.

scandalous reputation

Highlights the scandalous nature of the reputation.

negative publicity

Focuses on the public attention being negative.

being known for wrongdoing

Directly points to the actions causing the negative reputation.

tainted image

Implies that the reputation is damaged or corrupted.

FAQs

How can I use "notoriety" in a sentence?

"Notoriety" is typically used to describe someone or something that is well-known for negative or scandalous reasons. For example, "The company gained "notoriety" after the environmental scandal was revealed".

What's the difference between "fame" and "notoriety"?

"Fame" generally refers to being well-known for positive or neutral reasons, while "notoriety" implies being famous for negative or disreputable reasons. You can use alternatives like "reputation" or "infamy" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "notoriety"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "ill fame", "infamy", "disrepute", or "bad reputation".

Is it correct to say someone has "good notoriety"?

No, it is not correct. "Notoriety" always carries a negative connotation. A positive equivalent would be to say someone has "good reputation" or is "well-known for" something positive.