tale

American  

[tayl] / teɪl /

noun

• tales
  plural

1. a narrative that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story.

   a tale about Lincoln's dog.

2. a literary composition having the form of such a narrative.

3. a falsehood; lie.

4. a rumor or piece of gossip, often malicious or untrue.

5. the full number or amount.

6. Archaic. enumeration; count.

7. Obsolete. talk; discourse.

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tale British  

/ teɪl /

noun

1. a report, narrative, or story

2. one of a group of short stories connected by an overall narrative framework

3. 1. a malicious or meddlesome rumour or piece of gossip

      to bear tales against someone

   2. ( in combination )

      talebearer

      taleteller

4. a fictitious or false statement

5. 1. to tell fanciful lies

   2. to report malicious stories, trivial complaints, etc, esp to someone in authority

6. to reveal something important

7. to be self-evident

8. archaic

   1. a number; amount

   2. computation or enumeration

9. an obsolete word for talk

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tale Idioms  

1. see old wives' tale; tall tale; tell tales; thereby hangs a tale.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tales
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tale

before 900; Middle English; Old English talu series, list, narrative, story; cognate with Dutch taal speech, language, German Zahl number, Old Norse tala number, speech. See tell ¹

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Explanation

A tale is a story, especially one that's full of creative embellishments. You can read a tale from a book, or tell a bedtime tale to the kids you're babysitting. Tales can be true or fictional, but they generally consist of a narrative, with a beginning and an end, made more interesting and exciting with vivid details. Some tales are meant to teach specific lessons (like your family's history or your community's values), while others simply relay a funny story. Tale can also mean "lie," like when your mom asks, "You're not telling a tale, are you?"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tale tales

In the title of his 1997 bestselling adventure tale, “Into Thin Air,” mountaineer and writer Jon Krakauer employs a double entendre so clever that its effect is extraordinary.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

"It's a cautionary tale about how stellar activity can mimic planet signals using the radial velocity."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

The Mbappe furore and fallout is not an unfamiliar tale.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

The improbable evening turned into a moving tribute to both Capra himself and his tale of the suicidal banker George Bailey, who comes to realize that his life has indeed been wonderful.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

Ruva lay relaxed in the arms of the chief wife of the house, who had also been listening to the tale.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

In this era, powerful, complex stories of the intrepid human spirit sit next to ephemeral tales of cheaply made, mildew-ridden leggings.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

The lessons may appear to be the same, but the individuals often tell disturbing tales that only the gods could see coming.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

The Honduran diva spins twisted pop fairy tales in her bewitching new album, ‘Vanity’

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

"Trophies and tears for nation's everyday heroes" it writes, as "Stars humbled by tales of courage and sacrifice", including young fundraiser of the year Kirsty Waugh and Dr Eli Prior "who helped train crash victims".

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

His tales of Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans would bring “showers of silver.”

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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Related Words

• account
• anecdote
• fable
• fiction
• legend
• myth
• narrative
• novel
• short story
• yarn

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