mythos

noun

my·​thos ˈmi-ˌthōs 

-ˌthäs

plural mythoi ˈmi-ˌthȯi 

1

a

: myth sense 1a

b

: mythology sense 2a

2

: a pattern of beliefs expressing often symbolically the characteristic or prevalent attitudes in a group or culture

3

: theme, plot

the starving artist mythos

Synonyms

• fable
• legend
• myth

Examples of mythos in a Sentence

according to one creation mythos, humans sprang from the forehead of a god

the Superman mythos has long since become ingrained in popular American culture

Recent Examples on the Web

But despite all the mythos surrounding the city, its exact whereabouts had never been found. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 June 2024

For a progressive contingent of the latter, the diversity of the world’s cultures served the case against the missionary movement; surely there was no good reason to impose the Christian mythos upon other cultures that had perfectly functional mythoi of their own. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

May 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of Road House, director Rowdy Herrington’s poetic evocation of masculinity, faith, and the mythos of the American dream. —Rebecca Pahle, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2024

Ultimately, social adoption will depend on the ability to overcome the Frankenstein mythos. —Robert Moran, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek mŷthos "utterance, speech, discourse, tale, narrative, fiction, legend," of obscure origin

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a