Definition of legendnext
1
as in caption
an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart the legend indicated that a large circle represented a major city, while a small circle stood for a small town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in translation
an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration the legend in the science textbook indicated that the accompanying picture had been enlarged by 1000%

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature some ancient civilizations had legends about spirits that inhabited trees and rocks

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in folklore
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place that story of how the world came to be has long been part of Native American legend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of legend Eli Manning trades with an Italian legend New York Giants Super Bowl champions Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara were on hand and exchanged stickers with Alessandro Nesta, a center back on Italy's World Cup-winning side in 2006. Luis Miguel Echegaray, CBS News, 4 June 2026 Someone else dared someone else to be a legend. Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026 With so many legends, styles, eras, and defining moments, including World Cup performances, to choose from, creating a definitive list is a near-impossible task, and, perhaps, that is what makes such an endeavor irresistible. Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026 However, the streak elevated his name among some club greats, sharing the record with Mark McGwire and passing other A’s legends like Jimmie Foxx and Rickey Henderson. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for legend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legend
Noun
  • To commemorate the moment, Brady — who shares Jack, 18, with his ex, Bridget Moynahan, and son Benjamin Rein, 16, and daughter Vivian Lake, 13, with his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen — uploaded a slideshow of photos with two of his kids, and a sweet caption to share the news.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
  • The Kylie Cosmetics founder revealed in her caption that the upcoming collection is a tribute to her roots.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Another myth concerns interest rates.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
  • The result is a quieter map of Europe — one shaped by myth, food, architecture and history that most tourists never reach.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Centered on Zhong Kui, the iconic demon-quelling deity of Chinese folklore, the family-friendly adventure follows a young human girl named Chujiu who accidentally enters the underworld.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • Some of these approaches require meticulous scholarship and technical proficiency; others, an attunement to the invisible realms of feeling and folklore.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • After the victim parked near her home, the thieves displayed handguns and demanded money and her keys.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 3 June 2026
  • The key, in my opinion, is that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have to win their matchups.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Clark Shotwell plays the airplane enthusiast who gets a taste of first class – and chicken cordon bleu – flying with his actress mom to Hollywood in a throwback fable from a kid's perspective.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Wygodny has written original music to subtly accompany Booth’s fable, lending the emotional subtext at points a penumbra of cello.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Copyright © 2026 by Sharon Blackie DR SHARON BLACKIE is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author, and a psychologist with a background in mythology and folklore.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • That mythology is why the powder-throwing is playful rather than aggressive.
    Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • There were empty liquor bottles on every table.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • Culturally, populism spoke to a tension between the taste found in metropolitan centers and that of people in small towns across the country, pitting (for instance) classical opera and European masterwork exhibitions against folk traditions in art, dancing, and music.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • This is quintessential Alberta—a place where Indigenous traditions breathe life into the land, where artistry ignites the soul, and where prehistoric treasures foster unwavering connections.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legend. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on legend

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster