legend

noun

leg·​end ˈle-jənd 

1

a

: a story coming down from the past

especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable

the legend of a lost continent

Arthurian legends

b

: a body of such stories

a place in the legend of the frontier

c

: a popular myth of recent origin

the legend of the Loch Ness monster

d

: a person or thing that inspires legends

a baseball legend

e

: the subject of a legend

its violence was legend even in its own time

—William Broyles Jr.

2

a

: an inscription or title on an object (such as a coin)

The quarter bore the legend "In God We Trust".

b

: caption sense 2b

The legend identifies the various parts of the illustrated anatomy.

c

: an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart

Synonyms

• key

Example Sentences

I don't believe the legends I've heard about this forest.

the legend of a lost continent

He has become a baseball legend.

The gravestone bears the legend “Rest in Peace.”

Recent Examples on the Web

And thus, a fictional rock ’n’ roll legend is born. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023

At 23 years old, Fox became a local legend after surviving a ferocious great white shark attack during a spearfishing competition in 1963. —Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2023

Burny Mattinson, a legend of Walt Disney Animation and the studio's longest-serving employee, died Monday at the Canyon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canoga Park, Calif. after a short illness. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2023

The industry buzz and consensus couldn't have been more unanimous: Chris Hannah, long a legend among bartenders, deserved this. —Nathaniel Adams, Chron, 27 Feb. 2023

Pastrnak learned how to be a pro from Krejci, now viewing him less as a home-country legend and more of a friend. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023

Tennis legend Serena Williams and actor Michael B. Jordan collaborated in 2021 on a contest to award $1 million to an HBCU student with an outstanding business plan. —Joyce E. Davis, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2023

The actress first purchased the abode for $3.25 million in 1997 while married to tennis legend Andre Agassi. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2023

At the Met Gala in September 2021, the tennis legend wore the statement piece with a sparkly silver Gucci bodysuit embellished with stars. —Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English legende, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda, from Latin, feminine of legendus, gerundive of legere to gather, select, read; akin to Greek legein to gather, say, logos speech, word, reason

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing legend

• living legend
• a legend in one's own time
• urban legend
• the stuff of legend

• living legend
• a legend in one's own time
• urban legend
• the stuff of legend

Kids Definition

legend

noun

leg·​end ˈlej-ənd 

1

: a story coming down from the past whose truth is popularly accepted but cannot be checked

2

a

: writing or a title on an object

b

: caption sense 2

c

: an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart

Etymology

Middle English legende "a legend," derived from Latin legenda "something to be read," derived from earlier legere "to gather, read"