infamy

American  

[in-fuh-mee] / ˈɪn fə mi /

noun

plural

infamies

1. extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act.

   a time that will live in infamy.

   Synonyms:

   obloquy, disrepute, shame, opprobrium, odium

   Antonyms:

   honor, credit

2. infamous character or conduct.

3. an infamous act or circumstance.

4. Law. loss of rights, incurred by conviction of an infamous offense.

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infamy British  

/ ˈɪnfəmɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being infamous

2. an infamous act or event

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Usage

What does infamy mean? Infamy is the state of having a bad or evil reputation—the state of being infamous.The adjective infamous means having, deserving, or resulting in a bad or evil reputation. It’s typically used to describe people, actions, and events. It’s especially used in the context of violent crimes, scandals, and tragedies.Infamous is also sometimes used in a more general way to describe things, such as behavior, as shocking, detestable, vile, heinous, or scandalous.Infamy can mean infamous behavior, or it can mean the condemnation resulting from such behavior. Sometimes, it means about the same thing as shame or disgrace.Infamy is often used interchangeably with the word notoriety, which is the state or quality of being notorious—famous or well-known for a negative reason. But while notoriety can be used in a more neutral way to mean about the same thing as fame, infamy is always used negatively and usually involves a bad reputation.Example: Their heinous crimes will live in infamy.

Related Words

See disgrace.

Etymology

Origin of infamy

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English infamye, from Latin infāmia, equivalent to infām(is) “ill-famed” ( in- in- ³ + fām(a) fame + -is adjective suffix) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack that president Franklin D. Roosevelt said would live "in infamy."

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Martin rose to infamy brandishing legal jeopardy against his foes.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

The memorial page posted by UC Berkeley after Duesberg’s death walked a tightrope in acknowledging his descent into infamy.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Written, directed and produced by Ed Wood, the 1957 sci-fi horror hybrid has achieved a kind of divine infamy.

From Salon • Oct. 27, 2025

Amaranta Úrsula was inclined to believe that he was the son of Petra Cotes, of whom she remembered only tales of infamy, and that supposition produced a twinge of horror in her heart.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• notoriety
• opprobrium