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infamy

Noun

IPA /ˈɪnfəmi/

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Meaning in plain English

The state of being widely known for something very bad or shameful.

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Pronunciation

infamy/ˈɪnfəmi/

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A cruel act becomes public
Everyone hears about it
A lasting bad reputation

Infamy is being widely known for something seriously bad, like the cruel villain in a story.

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Examples in context

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In the novel, the pirate's cruelty brings him infamy.
The documentary examines the company's rise to infamy after the scandal.

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In the novel, the pirate's cruelty brings him ________.

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infamy — The state of being widely known for something very bad or shameful.

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The state of being widely known for something very bad or shameful.

Compare: In the novel, the pirate's cruelty brings him infamy.

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Word origin

From French infamie and Latin infamia, meaning a bad reputation or public disgrace.

Did you know?

Infamy concerns a bad reputation; it is not simply another word for fame.

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