notoriété

Notoriété is a French noun meaning public recognition or fame. It can denote the general knowledge of a person, a brand, or a phenomenon by the public. In practice, it covers both neutral and negative connotations depending on context; unlike célébrité, notoriété emphasizes the extent of recognition rather than the positive quality of the person or thing. In everyday language, one may speak of gaining or losing notoriété, or of “à la notoriété publique” to indicate something widely known.

The term derives from Latin notorietas, meaning public knowledge or fame, via Old French notoriété. In French, notoriété is often used in neutral or technical contexts, whereas the English word notoriety tends to carry a negative sense.

In marketing and branding, notoriété refers to brand awareness or recognition. It is commonly subdivided into notoriété spontanée (unaided recall) and notoriété assistée (aided recall). Market research tracks changes in notoriété to assess advertising impact and competitive position.

In media and law, it can describe the level of recognition accorded to a public figure or to a fact known to the public, sometimes described as a fait de notoriété publique.