# mystery

/ˈmɪstɝi/ (US) · /mˈɪstəɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. something unexplained

noun · CEFR B1

something that people cannot explain or understand because they do not have enough information.

For teachers: an inexplicable or secretive phenomenon that eludes human understanding or lacks a logical explanation.

- The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery to the investigators.
- The sudden disappearance of the ancient civilisation remains a profound mystery that continues to baffle archaeologists and historians alike.

### 2. a genre of fiction

noun · CEFR B1

a book, film, or play about a crime that is not solved until the very end.

For teachers: a fictional subgenre, typically involving a crime or murder, where the plot focuses on the process of investigation and discovery.

- She loves reading a good murder mystery before she goes to sleep.
- The author is famous for writing intricate mysteries that challenge the reader to identify the culprit before the final chapter.

### 3. a puzzling person

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is difficult to understand because they are very private or quiet.

For teachers: a person whose character, motives, or background are obscure or puzzling to others.

- He is a bit of a mystery; nobody really knows where he goes on weekends.
- Despite her public persona, her private life remained a mystery even to her closest professional associates.

### 4. religious truth

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a religious belief that is impossible for humans to fully understand.

For teachers: a religious truth or dogma that is considered beyond the grasp of human reason and can only be known through divine revelation.

- The priest spoke about the mystery of faith during the Sunday service.
- Theologians have spent centuries debating the central mysteries of the faith, acknowledging that some truths remain inaccessible to pure logic.

### 5. a craft or trade

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a special skill or trade that people used to learn in a guild.

For teachers: a specific craft, art, or trade, often associated with the medieval guild system.

- In the past, young men were apprenticed to learn the mystery of weaving.
- The medieval guild was responsible for protecting the secrets and mysteries of the goldsmith's trade from outside competition.

## Examples

- The cause of the fire is still a mystery.
- She loves reading a good murder mystery before she goes to sleep at night.
- The origins of the ancient ruins remain shrouded in mystery, as no written records from that civilization have ever been recovered by archaeologists.

---

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.