labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈla-bə-ˌrin(t)th How to pronounce labyrinth (audio)
-rən(t)th
1
a
: a place constructed of or full of intricate passageways and blind alleys
a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers
b
: a maze (as in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges
2
: something extremely complex or tortuous (see tortuous sense 1) in structure, arrangement, or character : intricacy, perplexity
a labyrinth of swamps and channels
guided them through the labyrinths of city lifePaul Blanshard
3
: a tortuous anatomical structure
especially : the internal ear or its bony or membranous part

Did you know?

Is there a difference between maze and labyrinth?

Is there a difference between the words maze and labyrinth? Not so much; both words are used in reference to confusing networks of passages or channels, or for a thing that is complicated or confusingly elaborate. However, in origin the two words are quite different. Maze is presumed to come from an unrecorded Old English word masian (“to confuse”), whereas labyrinth has a more classical pedigree.

Ancient Greek legends tell of King Minos of Crete, who had the inventor Daedalus create a labyrinth beneath his palace in which was housed the Minotaur, a fearsome monster with the head of a bull and body of a man. The Minotaur was said to have been slain by the Greek hero Theseus, who then managed to find his way out of the labyrinth with the aid of a ball of thread that had been given to him by Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.

Examples of labyrinth in a Sentence

a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers The cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls. a labyrinth of social customs and rules
Recent Examples on the Web Five trailers sprawl out in a labyrinth of surrealist artwork, skeletariums, and gift shops. Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024 The mitochondrion is a pretty little thing under the microscope, a neat lozenge containing a labyrinth of membranes. Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Spend some time traipsing around Ibiza Town, a labyrinth of bustling shops and restaurants with an ancient past seen in its cobbled stone streets and castle that looms large over the island. Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024 Once upon a time in the corporate labyrinth, LinkedIn reigned as the undisputed king of professional networking. Ana Bubolea, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Typically, the labyrinth, the innermost part of the ear, is encased in bone and contains a fluid which called an endolymph. USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 The boat trip to get to Goddard Hot Springs is full of twists and turns through a labyrinth of coves and channels, but the payoff is real: The only thing better than the hot springs are the views of the forest and ocean from their surface. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 The setup may seem pedestrian, but in the hands of writer Goscinny and the rough, expressive drawings of Jean Tabary, the gimmick becomes a loopy existential labyrinth with surreal touches that appear to have sprouted from a Jorge Luis Borges short story. Ernesto Lechner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 The items on display playfully critique consumer culture while serving as gateways into a labyrinth of surreal art and intricate storytelling. Laura Parker, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'labyrinth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of labyrinth was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near labyrinth

Cite this Entry

“Labyrinth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labyrinth. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

labyrinth

noun
lab·​y·​rinth ˈlab-ə-ˌrin(t)th How to pronounce labyrinth (audio)
1
: a place full of passageways and blind alleys so arranged as to make it difficult to find one's way around : maze
2
: something extremely complicated or twisting
the cockpit was a labyrinth of instruments and controls
3
: the internal ear or its bony or membranous part
labyrinthine
ˌlab-ə-ˈrin(t)-thən
adjective

Medical Definition

labyrinth

noun
lab·​y·​rinth ˈlab-ə-ˌrin(t)th, -rən(t)th How to pronounce labyrinth (audio)
: a tortuous anatomical structure
especially : the inner ear or its bony or membranous part see bony labyrinth, membranous labyrinth

More from Merriam-Webster on labyrinth

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