víðfrægur

Víðfrægur is an Icelandic adjective meaning “widely famous” or “well-known and celebrated.” It denotes broad recognition beyond a local or niche audience. The word is a compound of víð- meaning “wide” and frægur meaning “famous.” In usage, it stresses extensive fame rather than mere notoriety within a small circle.

Typically, víðfrægur describes people, works, or events that have attained international or broad cultural visibility. It is often used in journalism, criticism, and encyclopedic writing to convey prominence and reputation beyond a community. It can be contrasted with frægur, which simply means famous, and with heimsfrægur, which more directly implies world-wide fame. For broader scope, some writers choose heimsfrægur or alþjóðlegur.

Examples of usage include phrases such as víðfrægur tónlistarmaður (widely famous musician), víðfræg kvikmynd (widely famous film), or víðfræg bók (widely famous book). The choice of form can reflect grammatical gender: víðfrægur for masculine nouns, víðfræg for feminine nouns, and víðfrægt for neuter or in other inflectional contexts.

See also: heimsfrægur and alþjóðlegur for related nuances of fame that emphasize global or international recognition. In sum, víðfrægur signals fame that transcends local or limited audiences and conveys a sense of broad cultural impact.