mythology

1 of 2

noun (1)

my·​thol·​o·​gy mi-ˈthä-lə-jē 

plural mythologies

1

: an allegorical narrative

2

: a body of myths: such as

a

: the myths dealing with the gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a particular people

b

: mythos sense 2

cold war mythology

3

: a branch of knowledge that deals with myth

4

: a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or something : myth sense 2a

… defective mythologies that ignore masculine depth of feeling …

—Robert Bly

mythologer

mi-ˈthä-lə-jər 

noun

mythologist

mi-ˈthä-lə-jist 

noun

mythologist

2 of 2

noun (2)

my·​thol·​o·​gist mə̇ˈthäləjə̇st 

plural -s

1

: a student of mythology or myths

2

: mythmaker

Synonyms of mythology

Noun (1)

• folklore
• tradition
• lore

Examples of mythology in a Sentence

Noun (1)

We have been studying ancient Greek mythology.

We compared the two cultures' mythologies.

There is a popular mythology that he discovered the cause of the disease by himself.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rao made some 60 features in the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi languages, and moved between farce, fantasy, mythology and science fiction. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Asco’s work remained in relative obscurity — living in local mythology through storytellers like Ignacio — for decades. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The presentation, held before more than 3,000 fans in Hall M, offered a first look at the series’ mythology, characters and music. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

With a budget of $80 million, the film focuses on two friends magically transported to an island rooted in Philippine mythology. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English methologie, mithologie "exposition of a myth, book of myths," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French mythologie, borrowed from Late Latin mȳthologia (in Mythologiae, title of a myth compilation by Fulgentius, ca. 500), borrowed from Greek mȳthología "fiction, storytelling," from mŷthos "utterance, tale, myth" + -o- -o- + -logia -logy

Noun (2)

Greek mythologos teller of myths or legends (from mythos myth + -logos, from logos word, speech, account) + English -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mythology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

mythology

noun

my·​thol·​o·​gy mith-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural mythologies

1

: a collection of myths

especially : the myths dealing with the gods and heroes of a particular people

Greek mythology

2

: a branch of knowledge that deals with myths

mythological

ˌmith-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl

adjective