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

• myth
• legend

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

Thanks to the song’s inclusion in the 1955 movie Blackboard Jungle, rock music entered the American consciousness with its visual identity and mythos already set. —Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025

The driving force in the mythos of French cuisine, a sauce can conjure olfactory loops and Proustian moments. —Joel Hart, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

Indeed, no film of the past ninety years has given a more exciting and haunting take on Frankenstein mythos. —Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025

With establishing shots of the majestic Armenian highlands, the documentary makes a concerted effort to trace the deep-rooted mythos of this ancestral land before delving into its subjects. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025

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