mythology
mih-THOL-uh-jee
Mythology (noun) means a traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes. Example: “Greek mythology is full of gods who behave more like flawed humans than perfect deities.”
noun
1
A traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes.
"Greek mythology is full of gods who behave more like flawed humans than perfect deities."
"She studied Norse mythology for her thesis on Odin and the Nine Realms."
"Egyptian mythology describes a sun god who sails across the sky each day."
2
A set of widely believed ideas about something that are false or exaggerated.
"The mythology around overnight startup success ignores years of quiet failure."
"There is a whole mythology around the healing power of crystals with no evidence behind it."
"There is a mythology that geniuses never need to practise, and it simply isn't true."
3
The academic study of myths and how they are structured and used.
"He teaches a course in comparative mythology at the university."
"Her degree in mythology taught her how stories of heroes spread across cultures."
"The professor's lectures on mythology compare creation stories from many regions."
How to use mythology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA culture's collection of traditional stories about gods and heroes — or, more loosely, a set of popular beliefs that aren't actually true.
Common pairings
Greek mythology
Norse mythology
the mythology surrounding
a whole mythology
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Word forms
- Plural
- mythologies
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Greek _____ is full of gods who behave more like flawed humans than perfect deities.
Etymology
From Middle French mythologie, from Latin mythologia, from Greek mythos ("story") plus -logia ("study of").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mythology
See all rhymes for mythology →Frequently asked questions
What does “mythology” mean?
The word “mythology” means a traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes. In plain terms, a culture's collection of traditional stories about gods and heroes — or, more loosely, a set of popular beliefs that aren't actually true.
How do you pronounce “mythology”?
“Mythology” is pronounced mih-THOL-uh-jee (/mɪˈθɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “mythology” in a sentence?
Here is “mythology” used in a sentence: “Greek mythology is full of gods who behave more like flawed humans than perfect deities.”
What is another word for “mythology”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mythology” include godlore.
What part of speech is “mythology”?
“Mythology” is a noun.
Where does the word “mythology” come from?
The word “mythology” comes from Latin. From Middle French mythologie, from Latin mythologia, from Greek mythos ("story") plus -logia ("study of").
Is “mythology” a common word?
“Mythology” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “mythology” have?
“Mythology” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes.
What is the difference between mythology and a myth?
A myth is a single traditional story, while mythology refers to the whole traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes collectively. Mythology is the larger system or collection; a myth is one story within it.
Can mythology refer to false beliefs rather than ancient stories?
Yes, "mythology" can also mean a set of widely believed ideas about something that are false or exaggerated, such as "the mythology surrounding a celebrity's rise to fame." This modern figurative usage doesn't involve gods or ancient cultures at all.
Is mythology an academic field of study?
Yes, mythology can also refer to the academic study of myths and how they are structured and used across cultures, distinct from the myths themselves. Scholars in this field analyze recurring patterns, symbols, and functions of myths in society.
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