# legendary

/ˈɫɛdʒənˌdɛɹi/ (US) · /lˈɛdʒəndəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/legendary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very famous

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely famous and admired by many people.

For teachers: celebrated or described in well-known stories; having achieved a level of fame that makes the subject a household name.

- The singer gave a legendary performance that people still talk about today.
- The guitarist's legendary status was cemented after his performance at the festival, which many critics still consider the greatest in rock history.

### 2. from old stories

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to or based on old stories called legends.

For teachers: of, relating to, or characteristic of a legend; existing in traditional stories rather than historical fact.

- King Arthur is a legendary figure who may not have actually existed.
- The historian attempted to separate the legendary elements of the king's life from the few verifiable facts found in contemporary records.

### 3. remarkable or great

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

so good or so great that it is hard to believe.

For teachers: remarkable enough to be famous; very impressive.

- The traffic in this city is legendary for being terrible.
- The professor's legendary temper made students think twice before arriving late to his lectures.

### 4. a book of stories

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old book containing stories about the lives of saints.

For teachers: a collection of legends, specifically hagiographies or accounts of the lives of saints.

- The monk spent years copying the legendary by hand.
- Scholars examined the medieval legendary to understand how the local cult of the saint had evolved over several centuries.

## Examples

- The singer gave a legendary performance last night.
- The local bakery is legendary for its sourdough bread, attracting customers from across the state every weekend.
- While the hero's exploits were legendary among the mountain tribes, historians found little evidence to support the more supernatural claims of the oral tradition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.