mystery

¹ American  

[mis-tuh-ree, -tree] / ˈmɪs tə ri, -tri /

noun

• mysteries
  plural

1. anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.

   the mysteries of nature.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. obscure, puzzling, or mysterious quality or character.

   the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile.

   Synonyms:

   secrecy, mystique, obscurity, ambiguity, riddle, secret, problem, puzzle, enigma

5. any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.

6. (in the Christian religion)

   1. a sacramental rite.

   2. Eucharist.

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

   the mysteries of the Passion.

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

9. mysteries,

   1. ancient religions that admitted candidates by secret rites and rituals the meaning of which was known only to initiated worshipers.

   2. any rites or secrets known only to those initiated.

      the mysteries of Freemasonry.

   3. (in the Christian religion) the Eucharistic elements.

10. mystery play.

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mystery ² American  

[mis-tuh-ree] / ˈmɪs tə ri /

noun

Archaic.

• mysteries
  plural

1. a craft or trade.

2. a guild, as of merchants.

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mystery ¹ British  

/ ˈmɪstərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. an unexplained or inexplicable event, phenomenon, etc

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

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

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

5. Christianity any truth that is divinely revealed but otherwise unknowable

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

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

8. short for mystery play

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mystery ² British  

/ ˈmɪstərɪ /

noun

1. a trade, occupation, or craft

2. a guild of craftsmen

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mysteries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mystery¹

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)

Origin of mystery²

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 mystery ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A mystery is something that baffles our understanding and cannot be explained. The giant slabs of Stonehenge, remain a mystery to this day. The noun mystery comes from the Greek mysterion, meaning "secret rite or doctrine." A great synonym for secret is enigma. We use this word all the time to describe stuff we don't understand, from crop circles and UFOs to the origins of the universe and the workings of the human brain. In literature, drama, and film, a mystery is a story that centers around a crime, usually murder, which finally gets solved at the very end.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mystery mysteries

The circumstances around their deaths are shrouded in mystery even as the search has concluded at a property in Lancaster where law enforcement spent two days digging.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

The tone is more John Hughes than John Carpenter, as you’ll work together with a number of actors to uncover a paranormal mystery that’s consuming a suburban town.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

This time, they were looking for any records specifically tying the Sablonières in Berbice to their mystery woman.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Quite how England reached the 36th minute only one goal down was a mystery to everyone inside Wembley, Marc Guehi's inexplicable turn into trouble gifting Lamine Yamal an opener inside two minutes.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

But their leader, location, and members were a mystery.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

After discovering his suppressed memories, Cramer began teaching meditation classes for others seeking to unlock the mysteries of the mind.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

People think of these mysteries as very cozy at times and a bit safe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

If we weren’t in school, we would drive up Santa Monica Boulevard into Hollywood and we’d stand around and watch them produce the radio mysteries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

That spread of responses highlights how little consensus exists around one of the central mysteries of modern cosmology.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

Whether they died from their disease or the so-called cure they were given, their fates—and Isaac’s silence about his family—remain unsolved mysteries.

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

Related Words

• conundrum
• enigma
• problem
• question
• riddle
• secrecy
• subtlety
• thriller