notoriously

IPA/nəʊˈtɔːriəsli/
KK[notˈɔriəsli]IPA/nəʊˈtɔːriəsli/

notoriously — adverb

1. used to emphasise that something or someone has a bad reputation for a particula

1.adverbC1
Definition

used to emphasise that something or someone has a bad reputation for a particular quality or behaviour — the negative trait is widely known and not in doubt.

Example

Yasmin's hometown is notoriously difficult to reach in winter because of heavy snow.

notoriously + adjective for emphasising a widely known bad quality

Old taxis in the capital are notoriously unsafe, so tourists prefer the metro.

modifies an adjective describing a negative reputation

Common collocations
  • notoriously difficult
  • notoriously unreliable
  • notoriously expensive
  • notoriously slow
  • notoriously hard to
Synonyms
  • infamously

    very close in meaning; often interchangeable but slightly stronger negative tone

  • famously

    neutral or positive; describes something widely known without the negative judgement

  • scandalously

    much stronger negative; implies shock or moral outrage, not just a bad reputation

Antonyms
  • secretly

    opposite of being widely known; the bad quality is hidden, not famous

Grammar Patterns

notoriously + adjective

notoriously + verb

Usage Note

Almost always modifies a negative or unwelcome quality — pairs naturally with adjectives like 'difficult', 'unreliable', 'expensive', 'slow'. Avoid using it before positive adjectives ('notoriously kind' sounds wrong unless ironic).

Common Mistakes

Ayesha is notoriously kind to her neighbours.
Ayesha is famously kind to her neighbours.
'notoriously' carries a negative judgement, so it does not fit a positive quality.
The festival was notoriously a success last year.
The festival was notoriously crowded last year.
'notoriously' modifies a specific trait, not a whole event outcome.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three adverbs mark a trait as widely known, but they differ in tone. 'Famously' is neutral or positive — you might say a chef is famously generous with portions. 'Notoriously' always points to something bad: a road that is notoriously dangerous, a politician who is notoriously dishonest. 'Infamously' is the strongest of the three and often suggests a specific shocking event, such as a leader who infamously refused to apologise. In Taiwan-style learner usage, 'notoriously' is the safe choice for an everyday negative reputation (slow service, bad weather, expensive prices), while 'infamously' is reserved for serious moral or historical judgement.

notoriously ↗infamouslyfamously ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • notoriously hard to predict
  • notoriously difficult to fix

Prepositions

  • notoriously for

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinEnglish

The adverb 'notoriously' is built from the adjective 'notorious', which entered English in the 16th century from Latin 'notorius' meaning 'well-known' — the same root that gave us 'note' and 'notice'. The Latin sense was neutral, but English speakers gradually narrowed the meaning to describe fame of a bad kind. By the 1700s, 'notoriously' had settled into its modern negative use.