infamie

Infamie is a noun that denotes a state of being widely known for a bad quality or act, implying disrepute or scandal and carrying moral disapproval. The term is the counterpart of fame in a negative sense. In Dutch, the corresponding word is infamie; in English, the form is infamy. The concept traces its roots to Latin infamia, from infamis meaning disreputable or infamous, and it has appeared in various languages since the medieval period.

In historical and social contexts, infamie arises when individuals, groups, or events are associated with crimes, atrocities, corruption, or other profoundly harmful actions. The term is commonly used in biographies, legal history, journalism, and public discourse to signify a lasting, morally charged mark on a person or episode.

A well-known usage in modern history comes from Franklin D. Roosevelt, who described the attack on Pearl Harbor as “a day that will live in infamy.” This phrase exemplifies how infamie functions as a rhetorical and moral shorthand for a memory or legacy judged especially shameful.

In culture and media, infamie appears as a motif in works about criminals, tyrants, or scandals, reflecting the tension between public memory and moral judgment. Discussions of infamie often intersect with related notions such as notoriety, opprobrium, and repute, and they may consider whether infamy can be overturned by later actions or reconciled with reform of reputation.