widely and unfavorably known: a notorious gambler.Synonyms: infamous, egregious, outrageous, arrant, flagrant, disreputable.
2.
publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait: a newspaper that is notorious for its sensationalism.Synonyms: notable, renowned, celebrated, prominent, conspicuous, famous, widely known.
Origin: 1540–50; < Medieval Latinnōtōrius evident, equivalent to nō(scere) to get to know (see notify) + -tōrius-tory1
1540s, "publicly known," from M.L. notorius "well-known, commonly known," from L. notus "known," pp. of noscere "come to know" (see know). Negative connotation arose 17c. from frequent association with derogatory nouns.