The state of being famous for something very bad or evil; a terrible reputation.
From Latin 'infamia' combining 'in-' (not) and 'fama' (fame/reputation), literally 'not-fame' or 'bad-fame.' Entered English through Old French in the medieval period.
December 7, 1941 is called 'a date which will live in infamy' in FDR's speech—notice how 'infamy' suggests something burned into collective memory, unlike regular badness that we might forget.
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