Infamy means being famous for something very bad, shameful, or evil, especially when that bad action is widely known by the public.

Simple meaning

  • Infamy is a kind of “bad fame” – a reputation for doing something morally wrong, shocking, or cruel.
  • It can also refer to a specific evil or terrible act itself, not just the reputation that follows.

In everyday usage

When people say a person “lives in infamy,” they usually mean:

  • They are widely known and remembered for disgraceful or evil behavior.
  • Their name is linked to scandal, crime, or moral outrage, not success or talent.

How it differs from fame and notoriety

  • Fame : being widely known, often in a positive or neutral way (e.g., a famous artist).
  • Notoriety : being well-known for something bad, but not always on the extreme moral level implied by infamy.
  • Infamy : stronger; it suggests deep disgrace, moral condemnation, or horror linked to what someone did.

Classic example

The phrase “a day that will live in infamy” is used for a date when something very bad or shocking happened, so terrible that people feel it must never be forgotten.

TL;DR: Infamy = being widely known for something seriously bad or evil, so your reputation is marked by disgrace rather than glory.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.