legendary

adjective

leg·​end·​ary ˈle-jən-ˌder-ē 

-ˌde-rē

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of legend or a legend

legendary creatures of the sea

2

: well-known, famous

a legendary football player

legendarily

ˌle-jən-ˈder-ə-lē 

-ˈde-rə-

adverb

Synonyms

• fabled
• fabulous
• mythical
• mythic

Choose the Right Synonym for legendary

fictitious, fabulous, legendary, mythical, apocryphal mean having the nature of something imagined or invented.

fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate.

a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Examples of legendary in a Sentence

legendary creatures from the sea

He is the most legendary football player of his time.

Recent Examples on the Web

The steaks are sensational, but the restaurant is also known for its legendary salad bar (rumored to be the first in Nashville) with its homemade dressings like green goddess, French, thousand island, and old-fashioned blue cheese. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024

The Rose Bowl has a rich history as the pinnacle of college football, hosting legendary championship performances in an iconic venue. —Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

The event showcased Ross’ legendary catalog, reimagined with orchestral arrangements, providing a once-in-a-lifetime event for all who were fortunate enough to witness. —Okla Jones, Essence, 31 Dec. 2024

The ancient Greeks believed that the fruit's seeds symbolized abundance, fertility and eternity, according to the Greek Reporter. Brazil is known for its legendary fireworks show in Rio de Janeiro, especially on New Year's Eve. —Amanda Cappelli, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

legendary

adjective

leg·​end·​ary ˈlej-ən-ˌder-ē 

1

: of or resembling a legend

2

: well-known, famous