First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
infamous
adjective in·fa·mous \ˈin-fə-məs\
: well-known for being bad : known for evil acts or crimes
: causing people to think you are bad or evil
Full Definition of INFAMOUS
1
: having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil <an infamous traitor>
2
: causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful <an infamous crime>
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Examples of INFAMOUS
- 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
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Origin of INFAMOUS
Middle English, from Latin infamis, from in- + fama fame
Related to INFAMOUS
- Synonyms
- discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, ignominious, disreputable, louche, notorious, opprobrious, shady, shameful, shoddy, shy, unrespectable
- Antonyms
- honorable, reputable, respectable
INFAMOUS Defined for Kids
infamous
adjective in·fa·mous \ˈin-fə-məs\
Definition of INFAMOUS for Kids
1
: having an evil reputation <an infamous murderer>
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