urban legend
noun
: an often lurid story or anecdote that is based on hearsay and widely circulated as true
the urban legend of alligators living in the sewers
called also urban myth
Examples of urban legend in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Microwave ovens, which came along much later, enjoyed more widespread ownership and usage, both above 90%, in spite of urban legends about how microwaves will explode your pets and lower sperm counts.
—
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Her feature debut, The Challat of Tunis (2014), used documentary techniques to probe a local urban legend.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The area’s storied ship and plane disappearances have sparked urban legends, earning it the ominous nickname of the Devil’s Triangle.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The story centers on a freelance writer who investigates the disappearance of a friend, uncovering disturbing connections between urban legends, occult rumors, and a sinister truth hidden in Japan’s Kinki region.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urban legend
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Her feature debut, The Challat of Tunis (2014), used documentary techniques to probe a local urban legend.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The area’s storied ship and plane disappearances have sparked urban legends, earning it the ominous nickname of the Devil’s Triangle.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The story centers on a freelance writer who investigates the disappearance of a friend, uncovering disturbing connections between urban legends, occult rumors, and a sinister truth hidden in Japan’s Kinki region.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urban legend
Cite this Entry
“Urban legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban%20legend. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share