mythos

noun

my·​thos ˈmi-ˌthōs 

-ˌthäs

plural mythoi ˈmi-ˌthȯi 

1

a

: myth sense 1a

b

: mythology sense 2a

2

: a pattern of beliefs expressing often symbolically the characteristic or prevalent attitudes in a group or culture

3

: theme, plot

the starving artist mythos

Synonyms

• fable
• legend
• myth

Examples of mythos in a Sentence

according to one creation mythos, humans sprang from the forehead of a god

the Superman mythos has long since become ingrained in popular American culture

Recent Examples on the Web

While serving as an SparkNotes encyclopedia of an anime’s mythos, arena fighters also allow players to veer off course from a show’s storyline and steer full throttle in fanfiction territory by having heroes and villains duke it out in custom battles. —Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024

Everything has a politics, and Dead Outlaw doesn’t have to spell out its skepticism of the American mythos. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024

Writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams introduced Stewart in 1971’s Green Lantern No. 87, 12 years after Hal Jordan and the larger Green Lantern Corps mythos arrived on the scene. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024

Their artwork is genuinely exquisite and elevates an already excellent story and mythos to something palpably wondrous. —Ollie Barder, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek mŷthos "utterance, speech, discourse, tale, narrative, fiction, legend," of obscure origin

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a