Word
myth
US/ˈmɪθ/
UK/mˈɪθ/
Definitions
01traditional story
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. an ancient story about gods or heroes that explains how the world began or why things happen.
n. a traditional narrative, often sacred, concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, typically involving supernatural beings.
“In Greek myth, Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give it to humans.”
“The professor argued that every culture develops its own creation myth to provide a moral and spiritual framework for its citizens.”
02false belief
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a common idea that many people believe but is actually false.
n. a widely held but false belief or idea; a popular misconception that lacks a factual basis.
“It is a common myth that you can see the Great Wall of China from space.”
“The documentary aims to debunk the myth that organic farming cannot produce enough food to sustain a global population.”
Synonyms
03imaginary person or thing
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. someone or something that does not really exist, or whose story is greatly exaggerated.
n. a person or thing existing only in imagination or whose actual existence is not verifiable; often used to describe idealized figures.
“The perfect employee is a myth; everyone has strengths and weaknesses.”
“By the end of the century, the reclusive billionaire had become more of a myth than a man, with few people able to confirm his whereabouts.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “myth” in context.
Verb
01. debunk a myth
“Scientists have debunked the myth that we only use ten percent of our brains.”
verb + noun
02. dispel a myth
“The documentary aims to dispel the myth that all sharks are dangerous to humans.”
verb + noun
03. explode a myth
“The latest economic data has exploded the myth of a quick recovery.”
verb + noun
04. perpetuate a myth
“Social media can unfortunately perpetuate myths about health and nutrition.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. ancient myth
“The students are studying ancient myths to understand Greek culture.”
adj + noun
06. persistent myth
“Despite evidence to the contrary, the persistent myth about the monster remains.”
adj + noun
07. popular myth
“It is a popular myth that bulls are angered by the color red.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. creation myth
“Many cultures have a unique creation myth to explain the origin of the world.”
noun + noun
09. myth surrounding the event
“There is a complex myth surrounding the event that occurred fifty years ago.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The study, published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies , is the first to identify deepfake-specific victim-blaming and harm-minimizing myths in celebrity victims' experiences.” “But looking back, as myths from Lot to Orpheus remind us, can be a dangerous business.” “After all my research and interviews, I have come to the following conclusion: I think that adulthood is a myth.” Etymology
From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”). Attested in English since 1830. Doublet of mythos.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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