mythology

noun

my·thol·o·gy | \ mi-ˈthä-lə-jē

plural mythologies

Definition of mythology

1 : an allegorical narrative

2 : a body of myths: such as

a : the myths dealing with the gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a particular people

b : mythos sense 2 cold war mythology

3 : a branch of knowledge that deals with myth

4 : a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or something : myth sense 2a defective mythologies that ignore masculine depth of feeling —Robert Bly

Other Words from mythology Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about mythology

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Examples of mythology in a Sentence

We have been studying ancient Greek mythology. We compared the two cultures' mythologies. There is a popular mythology that he discovered the cause of the disease by himself.

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s something special about a franchise that can use its established mythology in a way that still surprises, and can even take the uglier parts of its lesser entries and ultimately utilize them as their strength. — Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, "What Could Be Lost with a 'Child's Play' Remake," 5 July 2018 According to the Kaminari Taiko website, Japanese mythology begins with the legend of Amaterasu Omikami, a Sun Goddess who, overwhelmed by her curiosity about an unusual dance to the beat of taiko, emerged form a cave to illuminate the world. — Kaila Contreras, Houston Chronicle, "Cole Branch Library in Crosby celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," 4 May 2018 So why not pay homage to their king tree, the giant of giants, Hyperion, named for one of the Titans of Greek mythology? — Robert Earle Howells, SFChronicle.com, "Should we hide the locations of Earth’s greatest trees?," 3 July 2018 The same cast of Afro-Cuban characters appear in all of the show’s large collographs, adapted from a mythology called Abakuá that Ayón used as archetypal symbols to express ideas about the politics of power. — Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "Art Daybook: Belkis Ayón’s Cuban perspective," 20 June 2018 Fans of Greek mythology might recognize shades of Orpheus and Eurydice—the story of the legendary musician who traveled to the Underworld to find his dead bride and try to bring her back to the land of the living. — Joanna Robinson, HWD, "How Westworld’s Most Beautiful Episode Yet Answers 9 Major Mysteries," 10 June 2018 The 1-ton mosaic is 18 feet long and 8 feet high, according to the complaint, and depicts characters from Roman mythology. — Dakin Andone, CNN, "California man accused of smuggling Byzantine-era mosaic out of Syria," 27 May 2018 Gould’s work explores the history of dogs’ relationships to humans, as reflected in everything from Greek mythology to the King Arthur tales. — Nancy Shohet West, BostonGlobe.com, "Museums blossom with spring exhibits," 25 May 2018 It was named after creatures from Greek mythology that could turn anyone who made eye contact with them to stone. — Geoff Manaugh, The Atlantic, "The City That Remembers Everything," 23 Feb. 2018

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

History and Etymology for mythology

Middle English methologie, mithologie "exposition of a myth, book of myths," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French mythologie, borrowed from Late Latin mȳthologia (in Mythologiae, title of a myth compilation by Fulgentius, ca. 500), borrowed from Greek mȳthología "fiction, storytelling," from mŷthos "utterance, tale, myth" + -o- -o- + -logia -logy