mythos

American  

[mith-os, mahy-thos] / ˈmɪθ ɒs, ˈmaɪ θɒs /

noun

mythoi plural

1. the underlying system of beliefs, especially those dealing with supernatural forces, characteristic of a particular cultural group.

2. myth.

3. mythology.

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mythos British  

/ ˈmɪθɒs, ˈmaɪθɒs /

noun

1. the complex of beliefs, values, attitudes, etc, characteristic of a specific group or society

2. another word for myth mythology

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mythoi
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mythos

1745–55; < Greek mȳ́thos; see myth

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mythos

If the mythos of the American dream is to work hard and get ahead, it’s being eclipsed for some by the dream of not having to work at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

The Musk mythos and his so-called cult of personality, according to experts.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026

“That’s part of their mythos and their culture,” said Parthemore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

And Beautiful Eagle Creek became a central part of the program’s mythos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2025

Hinduism had started off as a polytheistic religion, a set of tales about warrior gods and battles similar in many ways to the Greek mythos.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife