infamous

Pronunciation: /ˈɪnfəməs/ (IPA), in-fuh-muhs (American)

Origin: Late 16th century, from Latin "infamis" meaning "of ill fame"

Part of Speech: adjective

Meanings:

1. Well known for some bad quality or deed; notorious
2. Wicked; abominable; deserving of or causing an evil reputation

Example Sentences:

1. The infamous criminal was finally caught after years on the run.
2. The politician's career was ruined by his infamous corruption scandal.
3. The restaurant became infamous for its terrible service and inedible food.

Related Words:

• Noun: infamy
• Adverb: infamously
• Synonyms: notorious, disreputable, scandalous, disgraceful

Memorization Trick: Think of "infamous" as "in" (negative) + "famous" (well-known). So, it's being famous for negative reasons. Remember the phrase: "Infamously in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons."