labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈla-bə-ˌrin(t)th 

-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 life

—Paul 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.

Synonyms

• maze
• rabbit warren
• warren

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

In the United States alone, navigating the labyrinth of healthcare administrative tasks costs up to $265 billion annually, according to a 2023 McKinsey analysis. —Jacob Miller, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

The 100-acre resort has a 45,000-square-foot waterpark with a labyrinth of waterslides. —Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025

Ant nests can be huge underground labyrinths, and raccoons are experts at disguising their nests in trees, which are just a couple of examples. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025

This area is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, cafés, markets, and buildings with colorful architecture. —Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English laborintus, from Latin labyrinthus, from Greek labyrinthos

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing labyrinth

• membranous labyrinth

Rhymes for labyrinth

• hyacinth
• plinth
• synth

Kids Definition

labyrinth

noun

lab·​y·​rinth ˈlab-ə-ˌrin(t)th 

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 

: a tortuous anatomical structure

especially : the inner ear or its bony or membranous part see bony labyrinth, membranous labyrinth