mythology

American  

[mi-thol-uh-jee] / mɪˈθɒl ə dʒi /

noun

mythologies plural

1. a body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person.

   Greek mythology.

2. myths collectively.

3. the science or study of myths.

4. a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered.

   the Fascist mythology of the interwar years.

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mythology British  

/ mɪˈθɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a body of myths, esp one associated with a particular culture, institution, person, etc

2. a body of stories about a person, institution, etc

   the mythology of Hollywood

3. myths collectively

4. the study or collecting of myths

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mythology Cultural  

1. The body of myths belonging to a culture. Myths are traditional stories about gods and heroes. They often account for the basic aspects of existence — explaining, for instance, how the Earth was created, why people have to die, or why the year is divided into seasons. Classical mythology — the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans — has had an enormous influence on European and American culture.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• mythologies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mythology

1375–1425; late Middle English mythologie < Late Latin mȳthologia < Greek mȳthología. See mytho-, -logy

Explanation

A mythology is a collection of myths or stories about a specific person, culture, religion, or any group with shared beliefs. Most people don’t consider mythology to be entirely true, but they still take it seriously. A myth is a story about the olden days, often featuring supernatural characters, and a mythology is a bunch of myths that are related to each other. Greek mythology is filled with tales about relationships between gods and humans, usually with gods pulling pranks all the time. Christian mythology tells the story of God creating the Earth and everything after. Mythology can also mean the study of myths in an academic situation, like studying mythology at a university.

Example Sentences

The lighthearted interaction spread widely online, turning this moment into part of the city’s growing Knicks mythology.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

"It makes sense that Amazon’s first dip into 007 mythology should be with a game," games and culture journalist Keith Stuart of British paper The Guardian argued in a newsletter this month.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

For Díaz, heritage is not a fixed sound to preserve; it is one ingredient in a larger mythology.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The title of the latest work—which stands 11 inches tall, excluding its base—stems from Greek mythology.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

In reality she lost the finger gardening and the limp was an old skiing injury, but she never let the truth get in the way of her own mythology.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• belief
• legend
• lore
• tradition