Word Distinction: Fame

Different words are used connected with the concept of fame: famous, well-known, distinguished, eminent, notorious and infamous.
Famous is like well-known but is a stronger word and means “over a wide area”:
the doctor, the postman and other well-known people in the village
A famous film star has come to live in our village.
Distinguished and eminent are used especially of people who are famous for serious work in science, the arts, etc:
a distinguished writer
an eminent surgeon
Notorious means “famous for something bad”:
He was notorious for his delinquent habits.
Infamous means well known for being bad, especially morally wicked:
an infamous criminal/traitor

Did you know?

The B-list actors, celebrities, etc are people who are fairly well known because they are on television, in the newspaper, etc but who are not really famous:
They had invited some B-celebrity to open the new supermarket.