Legal Definitions - notoriety

Notoriety refers to the state of being widely known or recognized, often for something negative, scandalous, or unusual. It implies a public awareness that is generally widespread, and while it can sometimes be neutral, it frequently carries a connotation of disrepute or infamy.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of notoriety:

• A small-town business owner achieved notoriety after being exposed for running a large-scale pyramid scheme that defrauded hundreds of local residents. The news spread quickly, and their name became synonymous with deceit in the community.

  This illustrates notoriety because the business owner became widely known throughout the town, not for their legitimate business, but for their highly unfavorable and illegal actions, leading to public condemnation and infamy.

• An obscure historical landmark, an old bridge, gained significant notoriety in recent years after it was featured in a popular true-crime documentary as the site of several unsolved disappearances decades ago. Tourists now visit it specifically because of its dark past.

  Here, the bridge achieved notoriety because it became widely recognized and talked about, not for its architectural beauty or historical significance, but for its association with mysterious and unsettling events, giving it an infamous reputation.

• A promising young athlete developed a certain notoriety among fans and the media for their frequent public outbursts and unsportsmanlike conduct during games, overshadowing their impressive athletic talent.

  This example demonstrates notoriety as the athlete became widely known and discussed, not solely for their skills, but primarily for their negative and controversial behavior, which garnered significant public attention and often disapproval.