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

In the first episode of season three, Joe and his Sergeant Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) point out that its mythos resembles Mexican folklore’s La Llorona, in just one of a few instances throughout the season that approximate the Indigenous and Chicano cultures of the Southwest. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025

America has long been celebrated as the land of the free — a place where agency, independence and self-determination are enshrined in our national mythos. —Sunita Sah, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025

While this notoriety is a key chapter in the game’s cultural mythos, today, D&D is valued intellectual property owned by Hasbro. —Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025

Soon to become both a live-action movie and a video game, The Last Ronin has taken on a life of its own among TMNT mythos. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 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