Infamous or imfamous? If you are unsure which spelling is correct, use infamous.
Infamous is the standard spelling in American English. Imfamous is not the standard spelling of the word.
The confusion is easy to understand because the word is pronounced with an /n/ sound before the f sound. When people say it quickly, the spelling can be easy to mix up.
If you are writing an email, school assignment, article, report, or other formal text, choose infamous.
Quick Answer
The correct spelling is infamous.
❌ imfamous — incorrect standard spelling
✅ infamous — correct spelling
Infamous is an adjective used for someone or something that is widely known for something bad, harmful, or unpleasant.
For example:
The city became infamous for its violent crime.
Another example:
The company became infamous for its poor customer service.
The important point is simple: infamous is the spelling you should use in standard US English.
Why People Confuse Them
The main reason people write imfamous is pronunciation.
When infamous is spoken quickly, the sounds can run together. This may make the beginning of the word harder to hear clearly.
The word begins with in-, not im-.
So the correct form is:
in + famous = infamous
A useful way to remember it is to connect infamous with infamy. Both words use the infa- spelling.
For example:
- infamous
- infamy
- infamously
Keeping these related forms together can make the spelling easier to remember.
Key Differences At A Glance
There is no standard meaning difference between the two forms because imfamous is not a standard spelling variant.
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US English writing | infamous | Standard spelling |
| School or work writing | infamous | Accepted standard form |
| Formal documents | infamous | Correct dictionary spelling |
| Casual typing | infamous | Avoid the nonstandard form |
| “Imfamous” | Avoid | Common misspelling |
Simple comparison
- Infamous: Correct standard spelling.
- Imfamous: Common misspelling, not the standard form.
Are They the Same Word?
No, not in standard written English.
Infamous is the established English word. It is an adjective meaning well known for something bad or evil.
Imfamous is not recognized as a standard alternative spelling of that word by major English dictionaries.
This means you should not treat infamous and imfamous like two accepted regional spellings such as some US and UK spelling pairs.
For standard American English, write infamous.
US vs UK Preference
There is no meaningful US-versus-UK spelling split here.
Both American and British English use infamous.
The difference is not:
- US: imfamous
- UK: infamous
That would be incorrect.
Instead, infamous is the standard spelling used across major varieties of English.
Oxford’s American English dictionary lists infamous, and Cambridge also gives the American pronunciation and definition for the word.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Use infamous.
Choose it when you are writing:
- emails
- school papers
- business documents
- websites
- reports
- social media posts
- news-style content
- professional messages
If you see imfamous in a draft, correct it to infamous.
Easy memory trick
Think:
IN-famous
not:
IM-famous
You can also remember the related noun:
infamous → infamy
That connection can help you remember the spelling.
When One Spelling Looks Wrong
The spelling imfamous may look reasonable because English has many words that use im- before certain consonants.
For example, English has words such as:
- impossible
- impatient
- immature
But that does not mean imfamous is correct.
English spelling does not always work by simply changing a prefix based on the following sound.
For this particular word, the standard spelling is infamous.
So if you see:
The actor became imfamous after the scandal.
The spelling should be:
The actor became infamous after the scandal.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake 1: Writing “imfamous”
❌ The restaurant became imfamous for its terrible service.
✅ The restaurant became infamous for its terrible service.
Mistake 2: Thinking “imfamous” is the US spelling
It is not.
The standard US spelling is infamous.
Mistake 3: Changing the spelling because of pronunciation
The spoken form can cause confusion, but pronunciation should not be used to create a new spelling.
Remember the written form:
infamous
Mistake 4: Confusing “infamous” with “famous”
Famous normally means widely known, often in a positive or neutral way.
Infamous means widely known because of something bad or negative.
For example:
She is famous for her award-winning novels.
But:
The criminal became infamous for his crimes.
The difference is meaning, not spelling.
Everyday Examples
Here are some natural examples of infamous in American English:
- The neighborhood was once infamous for its high crime rate.
- The company became infamous after the product recall.
- That restaurant is infamous for its long wait times.
- The road is infamous for dangerous winter driving.
- The event became infamous because of the problems that followed.
- The player became infamous after the controversial incident.
- The old building has an infamous history.
- The website became infamous for spreading false information.
- The town is infamous for its extreme summer heat.
- The case remains one of the most infamous examples of fraud.
Notice that infamous usually describes a person, place, event, action, reputation, or thing that is widely known for something negative.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
Infamous is not a verb.
- Infamous: adjective
- Imfamous: not a standard English word
Do not use infamous as an action word.
For example:
❌ The incident infamous the company.
Instead, use a suitable verb:
The incident damaged the company’s reputation.
Noun
Infamous itself is not a noun.
The related noun is infamy.
Infamy means the state of being famous for something bad or the quality of having a very bad reputation.
Example:
The event went down in infamy.
The adjective is:
an infamous event
The noun is:
the event’s infamy
Synonyms
Useful synonyms for infamous include:
- notorious
- disreputable
- notorious for something
- widely known for something bad
The closest everyday alternative is notorious.
For example:
The area is infamous for traffic problems.
can become:
The area is notorious for traffic problems.
The exact choice depends on the sentence and the tone you want.
Example Sentences
Infamous:
- The company became infamous for its poor service.
- He is infamous for breaking the rules.
- The location is infamous for its dangerous roads.
- The case became an infamous part of local history.
- That restaurant is infamous for its long lines.
Imfamous:
- Avoid this spelling in standard English.
- Write infamous instead.
Word History
The word infamous has a long history in English. Oxford traces it to Late Middle English and connects it with Medieval Latin infamosus and Latin infamis, based on fama, meaning fame.
This history also helps explain why the established spelling is infamous, not imfamous.
There is no need to invent a separate origin for imfamous. It is not the standard dictionary form.
Phrases Containing
Common phrases with infamous include:
- infamous person
- infamous criminal
- infamous incident
- infamous event
- infamous reputation
- infamous history
- infamous case
- infamous for something
- infamous for doing something
- become infamous
Examples:
The town became infamous for the incident.
He was infamous for his dishonest business practices.
The case is now infamous in American history.
FAQs
Is it infamous or imfamous?
Infamous is the correct standard spelling. Imfamous is a common misspelling and should be avoided in standard English.
Is “imfamous” a word?
No. Imfamous is not a standard English spelling. The correct word is infamous.
What does infamous mean?
Infamous is an adjective that means widely known for something bad, harmful, or negative.
Example:
The company became infamous for its poor customer service.How do you spell infamous correctly?
The correct spelling is i-n-f-a-m-o-u-s: infamous.
A simple memory trick is to remember infamous and infamy together.Is infamous the same as famous?
No. Famous usually means widely known, while infamous means widely known for something negative or bad.
Example:
She is famous for her music.
The criminal became infamous for his crimes.Is infamous correct in American English?
Yes. Infamous is the standard spelling in American English. There is no standard US spelling imfamous.
How do you pronounce infamous?
Infamous is commonly pronounced approximately like IN-fuh-muhs.
The pronunciation can make the spelling confusing, but the written form is infamous.What is the noun form of infamous?
The related noun is infamy. It refers to a state of being widely known for something bad or having a very bad reputation.
Example:
The scandal went down in infamy.What is a synonym for infamous?
A close synonym is notorious. Depending on the sentence, other alternatives may include disreputable or widely known for something bad.
Can I use infamous in formal writing?
Yes. Infamous is appropriate in formal and informal writing when its meaning fits the sentence.
What is the opposite of infamous?
There is no single perfect opposite in every context. Depending on the sentence, respected, honored, or well-regarded may express the opposite idea.
Conclusion
When choosing between infamous or imfamous, use infamous.
Infamous is the correct standard spelling in US English. It is an adjective meaning well known for something bad or negative. Imfamous is not a standard spelling variant.
The easiest rule is:
✅ infamous
❌ imfamous
If you are writing for school, work, a website, or any other formal setting, stick with infamous.
