legendary
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or of the nature of a legend.
- Synonyms:
- superhuman, strange, supernatural, heroic
-
celebrated or described in legend.
a legendary hero.
noun
plural
legendariesadjective
-
of or relating to legend
-
celebrated or described in a legend or legends
-
very famous or notorious
Other Word Forms
- legendarily adverb
- prelegendary adjective
- pseudolegendary adjective
- quasi-legendary adjective
- semilegendary adjective
Etymology
Origin of legendary
From the Medieval Latin word legendārius, dating back to 1505–15. See legend, -ary
Explanation
It's one thing to be famous. It's another thing altogether to be legendary, or like a legend. The Monkees were a famous band. The Beatles are legendary — for most people, they are almost mythical in their greatness. There are a couple of ways to become legendary, but, however you get there, you have to become a legend. The first way is to be better at something than anyone else ever was. Michael Jordan, for example, is a legendary basketball player. The other way is to be known — and yet remain mysterious — for a very long time. The legendary Loch Ness Monster, for example, is very well known for a creature that (almost?) no one has ever actually seen.
Vocabulary lists containing legendary
The Crossover
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We Were Liars
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 10
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The victory made legendary trainer Charlie Whittingham a Kentucky Derby winner for the first time.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
For long-term investors, betting on Berkshire should pay off—even after a legendary investor passes from the scene.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Wankel’s engine is legendary among engineers and gearheads, on account of its simplicity and elegance: It has far fewer parts than a typical piston engine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
“Michael,” starring the legendary pop star’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, hits 3,900 screens nationwide on Friday.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
As Alexei grew older, and the hemorrhages more life threatening, Alexandra began to rely on a Russian monk of legendary unctuousness, Grigory Rasputin, who promised to heal the czar-to-be.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
