infamy

Infamy refers to the state of being well known for a bad quality, deed, or event. It denotes lasting disgrace, dishonor, or disrepute attached to a person, action, or occurrence. In common usage, infamy carries moral condemnation and is typically associated with notorious crimes or shameful acts that are widely remembered.

Etymology and nuance: The word comes from Latin infāmia, meaning disrepute or ill repute, formed from a prefix meaning not plus a root related to fame. In English, infamy has long carried a strong moral charge, distinguishing it from mere fame or notoriety. Notoriety can be neutral or negative, but infamy implies a deeper, morally loaded sense of disgrace.

Usage and context: Infamy is frequently invoked in historical, political, or cultural contexts to label events or individuals remembered for harmful or unethical actions. A widely cited example is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s description of the attack on Pearl Harbor as “a day that will live in infamy” during a speech to Congress on December 8, 1941.

Related terms: Infamous is the corresponding adjective for something or someone marked by infamy. Notoriety is a related noun often used to describe public recognition, which may or may not carry the same moral weight as infamy.

See also: Infamy in law and ethics; historical memory; reputation and public judgment.