Definition of legendnext
1
as in caption
an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart the legend indicated that a large circle represented a major city, while a small circle stood for a small town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in translation
an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration the legend in the science textbook indicated that the accompanying picture had been enlarged by 1000%

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature some ancient civilizations had legends about spirits that inhabited trees and rocks

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in folklore
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place that story of how the world came to be has long been part of Native American legend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of legend Norway’s goalkeeper was unbothered, smiling down at the legend of the sport. Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 The middle Saturday, for example, is the preserve of legends of just about every sport. Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Taylor Swift's Fourth of July parties have become the stuff of pop culture legend. Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper got an unexpected visit from a television legend live on CNN Friday night. Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for legend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legend
Noun
  • In the caption accompanying his post, Amabile shared additional details about his upcoming treatment.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
  • Shepherd also said that a photo that Crump shared on his Instagram, which supposedly shows Wells at a pool party, was not from July 5, as the caption claims.
    Mark Guarino, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • In all likelihood, the legends of those battles, passed down through song, grew into myth, hence how the character of Odysseus was probably born.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026
  • The filmmaker who has spent his career defending the theatrical experience adapts one of literature’s foundational myths on an enormous scale.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Spearheading the club’s immediate promotion to the Premier League would further cement his place in West Ham folklore.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Over the course of 22 episodes, the Doomies crew encounters vampires, parasitic demons, vicious mermaids, and some spirits specific to French folklore, all rendered as real threats towards our heroes.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • The surprisingly spacious material easily stores your essentials, including your phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses, and more.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
  • Wheeler opened up the extra period with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Morales (10 points) sank a triple from the right corner shortly after.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • Explore the Wild West from the back of a rickety wagon as characters share famed fables about Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, Pecos Bill, John Henry and Hekeke.
    Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • In 1964, Time, which then had a circulation of more than 3 million, ran a cover story on John Cheever, the author known for his dark fables of suburban malaise.
    Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • In Greek mythology, Odysseus is the legendary king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • Bulgari did not need to manufacture a mythology for the moment; its archive was already fluent in one.
    Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • The picture Joe’s posted on social media included England players Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson and Dan Burn at an outdoors table.
    Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • Folks who receive the cards also send Pinta photos — of their tables covered in cards, their refrigerators covered in cards, their mailboxes stuffed with cards.
    Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • In the first knockout stage match in the venue, Haaland’s winner in the 86th minute over Ivory Coast offered a lens into Norway’s rich fan tradition, and the enigma that is Haaland himself.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • The boxing ring metaphor was largely abandoned once the competition began, even though there were more opportunities to mix baseball’s tradition of walkup music with fight sports’ swaggering walkouts.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legend. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on legend

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!