Cool MateInfamous vs Notorious
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Infamous
Top 3,000 (common)C1adjective
Notorious
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1adjective
Most common: Infamous
| Infamous | Notorious | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪnfəməs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnfəməs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | Well known for something bad. | Famous for something bad |
| Example | a general who was infamous for his brutality | a notorious criminal |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | infamous for, infamous criminal, infamous act, infamous reputation, infamous scandal | notorious for, notorious criminal, notorious behavior |
| Antonyms | unknown, obscure, famous | unknown, obscure, unfamous |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'famous' with 'infamous' - 'famous' is for positive recognition., Using 'infamous' in a positive context incorrectly., Not using 'infamous' with a specific action or reason. | Confused with 'famous' which can be positive., Often used incorrectly with 'to be notorious of'., Mixing up the meaning with 'infamous'. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe people or actions known for negative reasons. Avoid using in formal settings where a more neutral term may be better. | Use 'notorious' when referring to someone or something widely known for a negative reason. Avoid in positive contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Infamous vs Notorious
What's the difference between Infamous and Notorious?
Infamous: Well known for something bad. Notorious: Famous for something bad
Which is more common: Infamous and Notorious?
Infamous is the most common in everyday English.
Are Infamous and Notorious the same CEFR level?
Infamous: C1, Notorious: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Infamous and Notorious?
Infamous: adjective, Notorious: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Infamous: a general who was infamous for his brutality Notorious: a notorious criminal
Can I use Infamous and Notorious interchangeably?
Not always. Infamous and Notorious are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.