Definition of MYTH

myth

Plural: myths

Noun

  • A traditional story, often explaining natural or social phenomena.
  • a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
  • A traditional story which embodies a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; a sacred narrative regarding a god, a hero, the origin of the world or of a people, etc.
  • Such stories as a genre.
  • A commonly-held but false belief, a common misconception; a fictitious or imaginary person or thing; a popular conception about a real person or event which exaggerates or idealizes reality.
  • A person or thing held in excessive or quasi-religious awe or admiration based on popular legend
  • A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.
  • An invented story, theory, or concept.

Examples

  • His story is a pure myth.
  • It’s a myth that all ’Q’ words must be followed by a ’U’ in Scrabble.
  • Scientists debunk the myth that gum stays in the human stomach for seven years.

Origin / Etymology

From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos.

Synonyms

misconception

Antonyms

antimyth

Scrabble Score: 12

myth: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
myth: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
myth: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

myth: valid Words With Friends Word