noun

infamy

IN-fuh-mee/ˈɪnfəmi/

The state of being widely known for evil or disgraceful actions.

The official's dishonest weighing brings public condemnation and lasting infamy.

A discarded badge of office lies beside evidence of falsified weighing and two small remembered scenes of public condemnation; shameful reputation tied to wrongdoing, no slurs.

Etymology

inLatinnot, without

+famLatinreputation

+yLatinstate or quality

The negative prefix joined to fama, “reputation,” produced the idea of ill fame or dishonor. Infamy is thus a damaged public reputation, not simply the absence of fame.

In context

War Torn America41:30

He wanted glory, got infamy, wanted admiration, got contempt, wanted to be remembered as great, got remembered as terrible.

Betrayal at West Point - Benedict Arnold's Dark Secret

More examples

The company's role in the scandal brings it lasting infamy.
The prison lives on in infamy for its cruel treatment of inmates.
His infamy follows him long after his release from prison.

Forms

infamous adjective — Widely known for evil or disgraceful actions.

Similar words

notoriety: Often suggests bad publicity without necessarily implying evil.
disgrace: Focuses on lost respect, not necessarily widespread public recognition.
disrepute: Means a poor reputation without necessarily suggesting extreme wrongdoing.