# tale

/ˈteɪɫ/ (US) · /tˈeɪl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a story

noun · CEFR B1

a story about exciting, imaginary, or historical events.

For teachers: a narrative of events, especially one that is imaginatively recounted or legendary in nature.

- My grandfather used to tell us a tall tale about a giant fish he once caught.
- The explorer's journals were filled with many a wondrous tale of lost cities and mythical creatures hidden deep within the jungle.

### 2. gossip or a lie

noun · CEFR B2

a report or piece of gossip that is often untrue or shared to cause trouble.

For teachers: an account of asserted facts or circumstances, often implying a malicious rumour, a lie, or idle gossip.

- Don't listen to him; he is just telling tales to make his coworkers look bad.
- The witness was accused of spinning a tale to protect his associates from legal repercussions during the cross-examination.

### 3. a total count

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a total number of things that have been counted.

For teachers: a reckoning by count; a total number or enumeration of items.

- The workers had to deliver the full tale of bricks by the end of the day.
- The ancient ledger recorded the exact tale of sheep brought to market each spring for over a century.

### 4. a scam

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Technical

a trick or fake story used by a criminal to cheat someone out of money.

For teachers: the fraudulent narrative or opportunity presented by a confidence artist to a victim.

- The police warned the public about a new tale involving fake lottery winnings.
- The investigator noted that the suspect used a sophisticated tale to convince the investors that their capital was being used for offshore developments.

## Examples

- My grandfather told us a tale about a hidden treasure.
- The old sailor entertained the children with a tall tale about a giant sea monster.
- The novel is a cautionary tale regarding the dangers of unchecked ambition in the pursuit of scientific progress.

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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.