Cool MateNotable vs Notorious
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Notable
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Notorious
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1adjective
Most common: Notable
| Notable | Notorious | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/nəʊˈtɔːriəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something important or worth remembering. | Famous for something bad |
| Example | a **notable success/achievement/example** | a notorious criminal |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, especially, particularly, for | notorious for, notorious criminal, notorious behavior |
| Antonyms | insignificant, trivial, unremarkable | unknown, obscure, unfamous |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'notable' with 'noteworthy' - they are similar but have different nuances., Using 'notable' as a verb instead of an adjective., Misplacing the adjective in a sentence, leading to awkward phrasing. | Confused with 'famous' which can be positive., Often used incorrectly with 'to be notorious of'., Mixing up the meaning with 'infamous'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'notable' to emphasize importance or distinction, particularly in academic or formal contexts. It may not fit casual conversations where simpler words like 'important' may be more suitable. | Use 'notorious' when referring to someone or something widely known for a negative reason. Avoid in positive contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Notable vs Notorious
What's the difference between Notable and Notorious?
Notable: Something important or worth remembering. Notorious: Famous for something bad
Which is more common: Notable and Notorious?
Notable is the most common in everyday English.
Are Notable and Notorious the same CEFR level?
Notable: C1, Notorious: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Notable and Notorious interchangeably?
Not always. Notable 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.