mythology

American  

[mi-thol-uh-jee] / mɪˈθɒl ə dʒi /

noun

plural

mythologies

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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Etymology

Origin of mythology

1375–1425; late Middle English mythologie < Late Latin mȳthologia < Greek mȳthología. See mytho-, -logy

Example Sentences

“Hercules,” with a secular story drawn from Greek mythology, is nominally an oratorio—it was unstaged at its London premiere and carries a moral lesson—but it is highly theatrical.

From The Wall Street Journal

The partnership between ravens and wolves goes back to Norse mythology -- Odin's birds scouted ahead and led prey to the god's canines, a relationship that provided food for all.

From Barron's

He left a peerless catalogue of songs articulating the life of working class Irish immigrants, with tales of finding love in the slums littered with references to literature, mythology and the Bible.

From BBC

“You can already see the mythology being built.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She later earned a master’s degree in literature and mythology at New York University.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• belief
• legend
• lore
• tradition