'Renowned' vs 'Famous': What's the Difference?

‘Renowned’ vs ‘famous’: What’s the difference? Words with similar meanings can be the toughest to navigate because of how much they overlap — but there are ways to separate them. Learn how to differentiate between ‘renowned’ vs ‘famous’ with this article. 

In a hurry? Here’s a quick look at what’s to come:

What’s the Difference Between ‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’?

As mentioned, words like ‘renowned’ vs ‘famous’ can be tough to tell apart, especially when ‘renowned’ sometimes uses ‘famous’ in its definition, definitively intertwining the two — but they do have separate meanings, so to explore that let's first get their similarities out of the way. 

The main difference however is the way in which something or someone is known by the public, or in other words, the connotation. 

Of course, these are not to be confused with the word ‘Notorious’ which means:

All of these things fall under the umbrella of fame, so perhaps a good way to look at it is by using the ‘rule of rectangles’, which states:

Now that we have an understanding of how these terms relate to each other, let’s take a closer look at their individual meanings and dive into how to use them. 

Definition of ‘Renowned’: What Does it Mean?

According to Oxford Languages, ‘Renowned’ is an adjective that means:

The word ‘Renowned’ comes from the Anglo “re-name,” implying that something or someone was named repeatedly, meaning it is frequently talked about. 

Synonyms of ‘Renowned’

Antonyms of ‘Renowned’

Phrases with ‘Renowned’

Examples of ‘Renowned’ People

Definition of ‘Famous’: What Does it Mean? 

According to Oxford Languages, ‘Famous’ is an adjective that means:

The origin of the word ‘Famous’ comes from the Latin “fama” which means roughly the same thing — well-known and popular. 

Synonyms of ‘Famous’

Antonyms of ‘Famous’

Phrases with ‘Famous’

Examples of ‘Famous’ People

Pronunciations: How to Pronounce ‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’

While we tend to read a lot about fame, we tend to discuss it just as much, if not more. So, let’s make sure you can pronounce these new words correctly. Follow the guides below to understand better how to say these words aloud

Use this phonetic spelling of ‘Renowned’ as a guide:

Use this phonetic spelling of ‘Famous’ as a guide:

How to Use ‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’ in a Sentence

The final step to mastering any new vocabulary is feeling confident using the words on your own terms. The sample sentences below will give you an idea of ways ‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’ appear in the real world. Pay close attention to how their surrounding context changes to reflect each word’s connotation. 

‘Renowned’ Example Sentences

‘Famous’ Example Sentences

‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’ Example Sentences

Final Words on ‘Renowned’ vs ‘Famous’

When words have very similar or almost overlapping meanings, the best way to start telling them apart is to rule out the similarities. From there, we can focus on their unique qualities, like connotation and positive versus negative attributes. And remember, sometimes, looking at examples is the best way to understand the specific contexts in which words appear. 

Need a little review? Here’s a recap of what we covered:

Want to learn more about sneakily similar terms? Be sure to check out other confusing word articles that give you a sense of how using subtle differences can help you understand when a word is best used. Keep expanding your vocabulary and practicing your writing, and you, too, could be a famous author or linguist one day.

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