notability
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being notable, worthy of attention, or famous.
An important or famous person; the state or fact of being well-known and respected, especially for a particular achievement, status, or distinctive quality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting a quality; can also be used as a countable noun (plural: notabilities) to refer to a notable person, though this usage is less common. Suggests a degree of prominence or distinction, not merely basic noticeability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or core usage. In historical/social contexts, 'notability' might more readily refer to a local dignitary in British English (e.g., 'the local notabilities').
Connotations
Equally formal in both variants. Slightly more archaic/dated when used to mean 'a notable person'.
Frequency
Low frequency in casual speech in both variants, more common in formal writing, journalism, historical, and academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
achieve ~ for sthgain ~ as sth~ of sth/sb~ as sth~ among/in sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might refer to a company's market prominence ('The firm gained notability for its innovative designs').
Academic
Common in humanities and history to discuss the significance of figures, works, or events ('The notability of this manuscript is undisputed among scholars').
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or ironically ('Your baking has achieved a certain notability in the office').
Technical
Used in contexts like Wikipedia's 'notability guidelines', which determine if a topic warrants a standalone article.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The footballer gained notability after scoring the winning goal.
- Her notability as a singer grew quickly.
- The artist's early work lacked the notability of his later, more famous paintings.
- He achieved national notability for his research into renewable energy.
- The committee was composed of various local notabilities, including the mayor and several senior judges.
- The historical notability of the event is often overshadowed by more dramatic narratives from the same period.
- Wikipedia's notability criteria require verifiable evidence of significant coverage in independent sources.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'NOTABLE' city landmark; its 'NOTABILITY' is what makes it stand out and worth mentioning.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE/VISIBILITY (e.g., 'a figure of great notability' implies large presence), or FAME IS A PLATFORM/HEIGHT (e.g., 'rise to notability').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque with 'заметность' (zametnost'), which implies mere visibility, not fame. Better equivalents: 'известность' (izvestnost'), 'знаменитость' (znamenitost'), 'значимость' (znachimost').
- The countable use ('a notability' = a dignitary) can be translated as 'видная фигура' (vidnaya figura) or 'знатная особа' (znatnaya osoba).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'noticeability' (easy to see/hear). 'Notability' is about importance, not perception.
- Using in informal contexts where 'fame' or 'being well-known' would be more natural.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈnoʊ.tə.bɪl.ə.ti/ (stressing first syllable) is non-standard.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'notability' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Fame' implies widespread public recognition, often in media/pop culture. 'Notability' is more about being worthy of attention due to significance, achievement, or status, and can exist within a specialized field without widespread public fame.
It can be used for both. While often for people, it is correctly applied to events, works of art, places, or ideas that are distinguished or important (e.g., 'the notability of the discovery', 'the building's architectural notability').
This is a key distinction. 'Notability' is neutral or positive, meaning well-known for good reasons. 'Notoriety' is negative, meaning famous for something bad or undesirable.
No, it is quite formal and somewhat dated. In modern English, 'notable', 'dignitary', 'luminary', or 'VIP' are more common for referring to the person themselves.