mystery

[ mis-tuh-ree, -tree ]

/ ˈmɪs tə ri, -tri /

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See synonyms for: mystery / mysteries on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mys·ter·ies.

anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown: the mysteries of nature.

any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation: The masked guest is an absolute mystery to everyone.

a novel, short story, play, or film whose plot involves a crime or other event that remains puzzlingly unsettled until the very end: a mystery by Agatha Christie.

obscure, puzzling, or mysterious quality or character: the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile.

any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.

(in the Christian religion)

a sacramental rite.
Eucharist (def. 1).

an incident or scene in connection with the life of Christ, regarded as of special significance: the mysteries of the Passion.

any of the 15 events in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary meditated upon during the recitation of the rosary.

mysteries,

ancient religions that admitted candidates by secret rites and rituals the meaning of which was known only to initiated worshipers.
any rites or secrets known only to those initiated: the mysteries of Freemasonry.
(in the Christian religion) the Eucharistic elements.

mystery play.

OTHER WORDS FOR mystery

1 enigma, puzzle, problem, secret, riddle.

4 ambiguity, obscurity; mystique, secrecy,

See synonyms for mystery on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of mystery

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English misteri(e), from Latin mystērium “a secret,” (plural) mystēria “secret rites,” from Greek mystḗrion, equivalent to mýs(tēs) “an initiate (into the Eleusinian mysteries)” + -tērion noun suffix; see also mystic)

Words nearby mystery

mysophobia, Mysore, MySpace, mystagogue, mysterious, mystery, mystery bag, mystery play, mystery tour, mystic, mystical

Other definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

mystery²

[ mis-tuh-ree ]

/ ˈmɪs tə ri /

noun, plural mys·ter·ies.Archaic.

a craft or trade.

a guild, as of merchants.

Origin of mystery

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English misteri(e) “ministry, office; handicraft, art; guild” from Old French mistere and Medieval Latin misterium, variant of Latin ministerium ministry, confused with mystērium mystery¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mystery in a sentence

Yet, only when we understand how it works—and that is still a mystery—will we be able to tune its behavior and start developing it into a technology.
This ‘Quantum Brain’ Would Mimic Our Own to Speed Up AI|Shelly Fan|February 9, 2021|Singularity Hub
The most challenging part was getting all those edge cases right, particularly when there were repeated letters in one of your guesses or in the mystery word itself.
Can You Randomly Move The Tower?|Zach Wissner-Gross|February 5, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The identity and social standing of the mud-wrapped individual remains a mystery.
An ancient Egyptian mummy was wrapped in an unusual mud shell|Maria Temming|February 3, 2021|Science News
Volunteering to take a mystery shot for science can definitely give parents and teens pause.
Five questions about COVID-19 vaccine trials in teens, answered|Bethany Brookshire|February 1, 2021|Science News For Students

Much of shorting’s mystery comes from its complicated mechanics.
Shorting stocks is a 400-year old practice|Oliver Staley|January 31, 2021|Quartz
But the real mystery and injustice came from Brooke being essentially written out of the history of the civil rights movement.
Ed Brooke: The Senate's Civil Rights Pioneer and Prophet of a Post-Racial America|John Avlon|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The fate of AirAsia Flight 8501 and the 162 souls on board is a tragedy, but it will not remain a mystery for much longer.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So far, the mystery man in the morgue has not been identified, and neither has Mr. Douli.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Due to the video lacking audio, what they were fighting about remains a mystery—“was Jay cheating?”
Yoncé Said Knock You Out: The Solange and Jay Z Story|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But his motives for shooting John Paul II have remained a mystery shrouded in multiple conspiracy theories.
Pope-Shooter Ali Agca’s Very Weird Vatican Visit|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here began indeed, in the drab surroundings of the workshop, in the silent mystery of the laboratory, the magic of the new age.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The beauty, the mystery,—this fierce sunshine or something—stir——' She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
The sudden pall of darkness in this strange house of mystery was just a tiny bit awesome.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
He professed both to abominate and despise all mystery, refinement, and intrigue, either in a prince or a minister.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
At last the report of several rifles from the island of trees gave us a clue to the mystery.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (1 of 2)

mystery¹

/ (ˈmɪstərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -teries

an unexplained or inexplicable event, phenomenon, etc

a person or thing that arouses curiosity or suspense because of an unknown, obscure, or enigmatic quality

the state or quality of being obscure, inexplicable, or enigmatic

a story, film, etc, which arouses suspense and curiosity because of facts concealed

Christianity any truth that is divinely revealed but otherwise unknowable

Christianity a sacramental rite, such as the Eucharist, or (when plural) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist

(often plural) any of various rites of certain ancient Mediterranean religions

short for mystery play

Word Origin for mystery

C14: via Latin from Greek mustērion secret rites. See mystic

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

mystery²

/ (ˈmɪstərɪ) /

noun plural -teries archaic

a trade, occupation, or craft

a guild of craftsmen

Word Origin for mystery

C14: from Medieval Latin mistērium, from Latin ministerium occupation, from minister official

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mystery

OTHER WORDS FOR mystery

Origin of mystery

Words nearby mystery

Other definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

Origin of mystery

Words related to mystery

How to use mystery in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (1 of 2)

Word Origin for mystery

British Dictionary definitions for mystery (2 of 2)

Word Origin for mystery