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

Noun Inflected Forms

• 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

See Examples For:

mythology mythologies

Adeyemi’s novels, inspired by West African mythology, follow the adventures of Zélie, played by Thuso Mbedu, on her quest to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey" has not only lured legions of fans to cinemas, but sparked huge interest in the UK in Homer's epic poem and other Greek and Roman mythology works.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Since first emerging online in 2019 on the online bulletin board 4chan, the Backrooms phenomenon has expanded across Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and gaming platforms, where users collectively map, narrate and extend its mythology.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell first wrote the numbers for “Hadestown,” a folk musical based on Greek mythology, in 2006.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

In ancient Greek mythology, the Three Sisters of Fate spin out a person’s destiny within three nights of their birth.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

“Wifredo Lam,” organized by MoMA’s Christophe Cherix and Beverly Adams with Damasia Lacroze and Eva Caston, reveals the full scope of Lam’s esoteric fusion of myriad sources, symbols, mythologies and artistic styles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026

Fisher: Both of these shows have very developed worlds and mythologies, but every effect has been designed to serve the story, it’s not the story having to serve the effect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025

Timothée Chalamet, for example, is hugely popular - but his most recent hits have been Dune and Wonka, which had their own existing fanbases and mythologies.

From BBC ● May 24, 2024

Rampant and stubborn mythologies about the contact risks of fentanyl have already created confusion and anxiety in the American public.

From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2024

He reads histories and mythologies and fairy tales, wondering why it seems that only girls are ever swept away from their mundane lives on farms by knights or princes or wolves.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• belief
• legend
• lore
• tradition