Famous vs Infamous
Famous = well-known for something good. Infamous = well-known for something bad — an infamous criminal, an infamous scandal.
The one-line answer
Famous = well-known for something good. Infamous = well-known for something bad — an infamous criminal, an infamous scandal.
famous
adjectiveknown by many people, usually for something positive
- She's a famous singer.
- Paris is famous for its food.
- He became famous after the film.
infamous
adjectivewell-known for something bad or notorious
- The infamous dictator ruled for decades.
- That was an infamous day in history.
- The prison was infamous for its conditions.
Memory trick
Think of 'in' before famous as a warning sign: infamous is infamous BECAUSE of something bad. Famous people get applause; infamous people get headlines for the wrong reasons.
Famous vs Infamous: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2Al Capone was an ___ gangster.