Word
mythos
UK/mˈɪθəʊz/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a set of stories, beliefs, or ideas that belong to a specific culture or group. It often includes legends and traditions that explain how the world works.
n. a body of stories, beliefs, and traditions that belong to a particular culture or group. Often used to describe the collective narrative framework of a specific society or fictional universe.
Examples
“The Greek mythos includes many famous stories about gods and heroes.”
“The author built a rich mythos for his fantasy world, complete with ancient prophecies and forgotten gods.”
“While the individual myths may vary, the underlying mythos of the culture provides a shared set of values and explanations for the natural world.”
Examples
simple
“The Greek mythos includes many famous stories about gods and heroes.”
contextual
“The author built a rich mythos for his fantasy world, complete with ancient prophecies and forgotten gods.”
complex
“While the individual myths may vary, the underlying mythos of the culture provides a shared set of values and explanations for the natural world.”
Real-World Examples
“Rubin comes across as an in-awe spectator tasked with polishing the Jay-Z mythos.” Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin mȳthos (“myth”), from Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “report, tale, story”). Doublet of myth. The plural form mythoi is from Ancient Greek μῦθοι (mûthoi), and the form mythoses from mythos + -es.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mythos