infamous

CEFRC1

/ˈɪn.fə.məs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Well known for something bad or evil.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Causing infamy; disgraceful.

Examples

  • I glare resentfully at the crimson letter, is this the infamous red-paper draft notice?

  • Sharks are infamous for their bloodthirsty natures.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Subject to a judicial punishment depriving (the person) of certain rights (e.g. the rights to hold public office, exercise the franchise, receive a public pension, serve on a jury, or give testimony in a court of law).

  2. Having a bad reputation; disreputable; notorious; unpleasant or evil; widely known, especially for something scornful.

  3. Punishable by death or imprisonment.

More examples

In context
  • A general who was infamous for his brutality

  • He was an infamous traitor.

  • She is infamous for perjury.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank general committed terrible war crimes against civilians during the conflict.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English enfamouse, in-fames, infamous, from Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis; by surface analysis, in- + famous. Displaced native Old English unhlīsful.