noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɪθɒs/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmʌɪ-/
General-American:/ˈmɪθoʊs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Anything transmitted by word of mouth, such as a fable, legend, narrative, story, or tale (especially a poetic tale).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A story or set of stories relevant to or having a significant truth or meaning for a particular culture, religion, society, or other group; a myth, a mythology.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A set of assumptions or beliefs about something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A recurring theme; a motif.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: literature, media, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin mȳthos (“myth”), from Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “report, tale, story”). Doublet of myth. The plural form mythoi is from Ancient Greek μῦθοι (mûthoi), and the form mythoses from mythos + -es.
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
German:
Mythos
— anything transmitted by word of mouth
Greek:
μύθος
(mýthos)
— anything transmitted by word of mouth
Serbo-Croatian:
mȋtos
— anything transmitted by word of mouth
Danish:
mytologi
— story or set or stories relevant to a particular culture or some other group
Galician:
mito
— story or set or stories relevant to a particular culture or some other group
German:
Mythos
— story or set or stories relevant to a particular culture or some other group
Greek:
μύθος
(mýthos)
— story or set or stories relevant to a particular culture or some other group
Serbo-Croatian:
mȋtos
— story or set or stories relevant to a particular culture or some other group
Greek:
μύθος
(mýthos)
— set of assumptions or beliefs