plural tales
1
: a story about imaginary events : an exciting or dramatic story
The movie is a stirring tale of courage.
tales about ghosts
2
a
: a story about someone's actual experiences
We listened to his familiar tale of woe/misfortune as he talked again about the failure of his marriage.
b
: an exciting story that may not be completely true
He told us thrilling tales about his adventures as a pilot in the war.
3
: a false story that is told to deceive someone
Are you telling tales again? Or is that the truth?
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tale. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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