labyrinth

noun lab·y·rinth \ ˈla-bə-ˌrin(t)th , -rən(t)th \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Editor's Note: Is there a difference between maze and labyrinth?

Definition of labyrinth

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 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

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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 of labyrinth from the Web

Now, more than ever, the men's swimwear market is a labyrinth of colors, patterns, shapes, and, most confusingly, a variety of different lengths.

— liza corsillo, GQ, "These Are the Swim Trunks Women Want You to Wear," 2 July 2018
Walk Logee's seven circuit labyrinth and make-your-own-flower headband.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Putnam-Killingly Edition," 12 June 2018
To fully relax, take a hike, visit the meditation labyrinth, or go for a swim in the lake.

— travel wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Solo trips to recharge in Wisconsin," 10 June 2018
The upper-levels of the Belmont grandstand are a labyrinth of hallways and small offices overlooking the track.

— tim layden, SI.com, "Remembering Chic Anderson’s Legendary Call of Secretariat’s Record Run at 1973 Belmont Stakes," 4 June 2018
The labyrinth that is the modern U.S. healthcare system can be just as challenging and impenetrable as the wilderness the intrepid explorers traversed.

— guest columnist/cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Hospice and palliative experts extend family doctor's care at end of life: Dr. Walter George (Opinion)," 15 Apr. 2018
Once exposed to the labyrinth, Akecheta began to realize this true purpose and began to spread the idea among other hosts.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "‘Westworld’ Episode 8 recap: 5 things to know about ‘Kiksuya’," 11 June 2018
Peaks rise to roughly 2,600 feet (the highest between the Rockies and Appalachians) and lead to a labyrinth of stony hollows, waterfalls, and sweeping vistas.

— jonathan olivier, Outside Online, "The Best Thru-Hikes You've Never Heard Of," 14 May 2018
Guests are welcome to walk the labyrinth before the healing service.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'labyrinth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.