legend

noun

ˈle-jənd How to pronounce legend (audio)
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

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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%

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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

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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

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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 Norway’s goalkeeper was unbothered, smiling down at the legend of the sport. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 The middle Saturday, for example, is the preserve of legends of just about every sport. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Taylor Swift's Fourth of July parties have become the stuff of pop culture legend. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper got an unexpected visit from a television legend live on CNN Friday night. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for legend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legend
  1. caption
  2. myth
  3. folklore
  4. key
  5. fable
  6. mythology
  7. table
  8. tradition
Noun
  • Wormald often shared photos of Bennett on his Instagram with loving captions.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • McMillan paired the caption with a photo of Hargitay posing in full glam from inside a black car, seemingly on her way to the wedding.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of caption
Noun
  • Despite numerous myths, a cat's fur color does not impact its personality traits.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • This is myth, and fisheries biologists know that pike do feed during the hot months just as other fish do.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • And starring Barbie Ferreira as a vigilante web sleuth, their latest project successfully tapped into an earlier strain of viral folklore that resonated strongly with IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
  • Others, already on the flight home, leave with their reputations enhanced, their followers multiplied and their place in World Cup folklore secure.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of folklore
Noun
  • They’re also equipped with two side pockets and a hidden back pocket to securely stow small essentials like house keys.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • These gun cabinets use the lock-and-key type of security typical in most homes.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of key
Noun
  • Explore the Wild West from the back of a rickety wagon as characters share famed fables about Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, Pecos Bill, John Henry and Hekeke.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • My dad’s stories about his grade-school experience felt like dark fables, peppered with slurs hurled at him by classmates.
    — Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of fable
Noun
  • In Greek mythology, Narcissus was brought down by a reflecting pool.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
  • But the filmmaker proves more interested in interrogating that ethos than recreating it, and few horror mythologies are better suited to exploring betrayal and regret than one built around the refusal to let the dead remain dead.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • Guests also visited a memory table filled with photos of Love and her father together, along with some of his favorite things, including a football, weights and his scriptures.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of table
Noun
  • La Scuola del Cuoio carries on Florence’s historic leather-making tradition and is the perfect place to buy a high-quality artisan bag.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • And ascribing talismanic properties to jewelry is a tradition dating back thousands of years.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Definition of tradition

Browse Nearby Words

legations
legend
legendary
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Cite this Entry

“Legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legend. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on legend

Nglish: Translation of legend for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about legend

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