myth

B1 Topic:Literature & Storytelling

US /mɪθ/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like miss /θ/ vs /s/ Sounds like mitt /θ/ vs /t/

Freq #5007

Meanings

1

noun
A widely held but false belief or idea.

It's a common myth that we only use ten percent of our brains.
2

noun
A traditional story, often about gods or heroes, that explains nature, history, or beliefs.

The myth of Icarus warns against flying too close to the sun.
3

noun
A person or thing existing only in imagination.

To the children, the famous explorer was almost a myth.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a widely held but false... misconception

2 noun · a traditional story, often... legend

Opposites

antimyth

Word family

Forms myths

Derived forms demythedumythmythbustmythbustermythconceptionmythememythic mythicalmythicismmythicizemythificationmythify

Related forms legend

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

old myth
a false belief that has been repeated for a long time

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos.

μῦθος Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Literature & Storytelling Religion & Belief

External links

# myth

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /mɪθ/
**Frequency rank:** 5007

## Meanings
1. A widely held but false belief or idea.
2. A traditional story, often about gods or heroes, that explains nature, history, or beliefs.
3. A person or thing existing only in imagination.

## Examples
- It's a common myth that we only use ten percent of our brains.
- The myth of Icarus warns against flying too close to the sun.
- To the children, the famous explorer was almost a myth.

## Antonyms
- antimyth

## Derived Forms
- demyth
- edumyth
- mythbust
- mythbuster
- mythconception
- mytheme
- mythic
- mythical
- mythicism
- mythicize
- mythification
- mythify

## Related Forms
- legend

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: μῦθος

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos.

## AI Etymology
Myth comes from Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos. In present-day English its meanings include a widely held but false belief or idea, a traditional story, often about gods or heroes, that explains nature, history, or beliefs, and a person or thing existing only in imagination. Related and derived forms include legend, demyth, edumyth, and mythbust.

## Topics
- Literature & Storytelling
- Religion & Belief

markdown