Generally known and talked of by the public; universally believed to be true; manifest to the world; evident; usually in an unfavorable sense; as, a notorious thief; a notorious crime or vice
To be notorious means to be well-known for something bad. an area notorious for drugs, crime and violence She told us the story of one of Britain's most notorious country house murders. = infamous + notoriously no·to·ri·ous·ly The train company is overstaffed and notoriously inefficient Doctors notoriously neglect their own health and fail to seek help when they should. famous or well-known for something bad = infamous (notorius, from notus; NOTICE)