legend

The word “legend” means a traditional story from the past, often only partly true. In plain terms, a traditional tale passed down over time, a famously accomplished person, or a map's explanatory key.

“Legend” is pronounced LEHJ-uhnd (/ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/ in IPA).

Here is “legend” used in a sentence: “According to legend, the town was founded by a lost sailor.”

“Legend” is a noun.

The word “legend” comes from Latin. From Latin legenda, "things to be read," originally referring to accounts of saints' lives read aloud in church.

“Legend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Legend” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional story from the past, often only partly true.

A legend is set in the real world and often centres on a historical figure or event, embellished over time — think King Arthur or Robin Hood. A myth is a traditional story that usually involves gods or the supernatural and explains origins, like how the world began. Legends feel historical; myths feel sacred or cosmic.

A folktale is a traditional story told mainly for entertainment or a moral, with no claim to be true and often no fixed time or place. A legend, by contrast, is usually tied to a real setting, person or period and is presented as if it might have actually happened, however exaggerated.

Yes. Besides a traditional story, a legend can be a hugely admired or famous person — 'a football legend.' It also means the key on a map or chart that explains its symbols, and any explanatory caption. Modern slang uses it as praise too, calling a helpful or impressive person 'an absolute legend.'

Classic legends include King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood, William Tell and the tales of Atlantis. Each grows from a kernel of possible history or a real place, then gathers heroic, dramatic detail as it is retold across generations until fact and story are hard to separate.