infamous

[in-fuh-muh s] /ˈɪn fə məs/
adjective
1.
having an extremely bad reputation:
an infamous city.
2.
deserving of or causing an evil reputation; shamefully malign; detestable:
an infamous deed.
3.
Law.
  1. deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses.
  2. of or pertaining to offenses involving such deprivation.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin infām(is) (see infamy) + -ous
Related forms
infamously, adverb
infamousness, noun
Can be confused
famous, infamous, notorious (see synonym study at famous)
Synonyms
1. disreputable, ill-famed, notorious. 2. disgraceful, scandalous; nefarious, odious, wicked, shocking, vile, base, heinous, villainous.
Antonyms
1. reputable. 2. praiseworthy, admirable.
Examples from the web for infamous
  • No crime is more infamous than the violation of truth.
  • The recording industry and movie industry are infamous for stealing money from artists.
  • Hedge funds are infamous for being scrappy and secretive.
  • infamous crime, however, is not further explained or defined in that provision.
  • This infamous incident resulted in his being blacklisted from films for several years.
British Dictionary definitions for infamous

infamous

/ˈɪnfəməs/
adjective
1.
having a bad reputation; notorious
2.
causing or deserving a bad reputation; shocking: infamous conduct
3.
(criminal law, formerly)
  1. (of a person) deprived of certain rights of citizenship on conviction of certain offences
  2. (of a crime or punishment) entailing such deprivation
Derived Forms
infamously, adverb
infamousness, noun
Word Origin and History for infamous
adj.

late 14c., from Medieval Latin infamosus, from Latin in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + famosus "celebrated" (see famous). Meaning influenced by Latin infamis "of ill fame" (see infamy). As a legal term, "disqualified from certain rights of citizens in consequence of conviction of certain crimes" (late 14c.). Related: Infamously.