Noun 1: evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal
2a: an extreme and publicly known criminal or evil act
b: the state of being infamous
A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport By CHARLES McGRATH
“During Britain’s general election of 1997, he set a new standard for journalistic infamy by getting himself bounced off John Major’s campaign plane for snorting heroin in the bathroom.“