Difference between “famous” and “infamous”

What is the difference between famous and infamous?

In learning English, confusion often arises with similar words. Today, we’ll explore the words famous and infamous, which are commonly mistaken for each other. At first glance, both words seem to share a common meaning—they describe someone or something that is well-known. However, the difference between them is significant.

The word famous means that many people know about a person or thing, typically due to positive achievements or recognition. For example, a famous actor or a historical landmark is acknowledged for its merits.

Infamous, on the other hand, describes someone or something that is also well-known, but for negative reasons. This could be a person notorious for scandals or crimes, or a place with a bad reputation.

Interestingly, these two words also differ in pronunciation:

• Famous is pronounced as “FAY-mus” (A, as in “make”).
• Infamous is pronounced as “IN-fu-mus”.

It’s worth noting that the opposite of famous is unknown or little-known, referring to someone or something that is not widely recognized. This article will help you better understand the difference between these two important words and teach you how to use them correctly.

Famous: Meaning, Grammar, Phrases, and Examples

Meaning of Famous

The word famous means “well-known” or “renowned.” It is used to describe people, places, events, or things that are widely recognized by a large number of people for their achievements, positive impact, or significant importance in society. A person, place, or event can be famous due to a positive reputation or merits.

Example:

• He is a famous singer who has won many awards.

Grammar of Famous

Famous is an adjective that describes a noun and is always used in the sense of “well-known.” It does not change based on gender or number, meaning it always stays famous, whether describing singular or plural.

Example:

• She met a famous artist.
• These paintings are by a famous artist.

Phrases and Expressions with Famous

In everyday language, the word famous is often used in various phrases and expressions to describe popularity or fame. Here are a few popular phrases:

• Famous for – Known for something.
  • The city is famous for its beautiful architecture.
• Famous last words – An ironic expression used when someone makes a confident statement that is likely to be proven wrong.
  • He said he would never be late again. Famous last words!
• Make someone famous – To make someone well-known.
  • That viral video made him famous overnight.
• A household name – Someone or something that is known by everyone.
  • She became a household name after starring in that movie.

Examples of famous in Use

In the field of entertainment:

• Beyoncé is one of the most famous musicians in the world.

In the context of history:

• Albert Einstein is famous for his theory of relativity.

For places or landmarks:

• The Colosseum in Rome is a famous historical monument.

For achievements:

• She became famous after winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

In daily conversation:

• He’s famous for telling great jokes at parties.

The word famous is widely used to describe people, places, and events that have gained recognition or popularity due to their positive achievements. It remains an unchanged form in English and can be used in various contexts, from celebrities to cultural landmarks.

Infamous: Meaning, Grammar, Phrases, and Examples

Meaning of Infamous

The word infamous means “notorious” or “disgraceful.” It refers to people, places, or events that have become well-known due to negative, shocking, or criminal actions. Although infamous shares the same root as famous, its meaning is entirely different: it is always used in a negative context. A person or event can be infamous because of a bad reputation or actions that have led to disgrace or criticism.

Example:

• He is infamous for his role in the financial scandal.

Grammar of Infamous

Infamous is an adjective that describes a noun, indicating negative fame or notoriety. Like famous, it does not change for number or gender and always remains in the form infamous.

Example:

• The infamous dictator ruled with an iron fist.
• They visited the infamous prison where many political prisoners were held.

Phrases and Expressions with Infamous

In everyday language, infamous is often used to emphasize someone’s or something’s negative reputation or bad fame. Here are some common phrases and expressions:

• Infamous for – Known for something bad or disgraceful.
  The restaurant is infamous for its terrible service.
• The infamous incident – A notorious event that is widely talked about because of its negative impact.
  The infamous incident at the concert shocked everyone.
• Notoriously infamous – Extremely notorious, well-known for something very bad.
  The notoriously infamous criminal was finally arrested.
• An infamous name – A name that has gained notoriety due to negative actions.
  His name became infamous after the scandal.

Examples of Infamous in Use

• In history:
  Adolf Hitler is infamous for his role in World War II and the Holocaust.
• For places with bad reputations:
  That street is infamous for its high crime rate.
• For criminal activity:
  The infamous gangster was known for his brutal tactics.
• In pop culture:
  The infamous interview caused a huge public outcry.
• In daily conversation:
  That teacher is infamous for giving too much homework.

The word infamous is used to describe people or events that have gained a bad reputation because of negative or disgraceful actions. It’s an adjective with a negative connotation, typically employed in contexts involving notorious incidents or crimes.

Difference between Infamous and Famous

Here’s a table to help understand the differences between famous and infamous:

Characteristic	Famous	Infamous
Meaning	Known for something positive or neutral	Known for something negative or shameful
Context of use	Positive or neutral	Negative
Examples	– The Eiffel Tower is famous worldwide. – She is a famous actress.	– The dictator is infamous for his cruelty. – The company became infamous after the scandal.
Grammatical use	Adjective, does not change with number or gender	Adjective, does not change with number or gender
Phrases	– Famous for (known for something) – Make someone famous (to make someone well-known)	– Infamous for (known for something bad) – Infamous incident (a notorious event)
Pronunciation	FA-mus (A as in “make”)	IN-fu-mus
Antonyms	Unknown, little-known	Praised, honorable

Key Differences

• Positive vs. Negative Meaning:
  Famous describes someone or something that is well-known in a positive or neutral way, whereas infamous always carries a negative connotation.
• Public Perception:
  Someone who is famous has gained recognition for positive reasons, while someone who is infamous is known for something negative, scandalous, or shameful.
• Adjectives:
  Both words are adjectives, but famous is associated with fame and admiration, while infamous is linked to notoriety and disgrace.
• Prefix “in-“:
  The prefix “in-” in infamous adds a negative meaning, making it easy to remember that it refers to something bad.

Example of Usage in the Same Context

• The city is famous for its beautiful architecture, but it’s also infamous for its high crime rate.

How to Avoid Confusion

To avoid confusion, remember the root of infamous. The prefix “in-” adds a negative tone, much like in words such as incorrect or inappropriate.

Thus, famous refers to positive recognition, while infamous refers to notoriety.