Infamy means being famous for something terrible or shameful. When someone achieves infamy, they become widely known for a crime, a betrayal, a disaster they caused, or some other disgraceful act that people remember and condemn.

President Franklin Roosevelt used this word in one of history's most famous speeches. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, he declared that December 7th would be “a date which will live in infamy.” He meant that people would remember that day forever because of the shocking and treacherous nature of the attack.

Someone who gains infamy might be remembered for centuries, but not in any way they'd want. Benedict Arnold lives in infamy as a notorious traitor in American history. Some people involved in the Titanic disaster gained infamy for ignoring iceberg warnings.

Notice how infamy differs from simple unpopularity. An infamous person is remembered specifically for doing something widely considered wrong or dishonorable. A student who gets caught cheating might feel embarrassed, but a politician who betrays their country achieves infamy. The scale and seriousness of the wrongdoing matter. Infamy means your shameful actions echo through time.