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 Greenhill, founded by M&A legend Bob Greenhill, hung on long enough for Mizuho to absorb it as the New York face of Japanese lending firepower. — semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Early birds were treated to appearances from Broadway legends like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, as well as musical numbers from the folk standouts Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Earle has been linked to a bevy of men including fellow NFL legend Tom Brady, F1 driver Lando Norris and country singer Benson Boone. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 In addition to being a comedy legend, Marin is also a longtime collector of Chicano art. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 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
  • French-language closed captions for the video tutorials are now available through both the Wear Longer Project website and Discovery Education experience, expanding access for French-speaking learners and educators.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Neither the photograph nor Tech’s brief caption explains whether MrBeast was simply touring the facility or whether the visit is connected to a future project.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of caption
Noun
  • After decades of perspective-shifting literary retellings like Wide Sargasso Sea and The Mists of Avalon and the current trend of feminist Greek myths, Cathy is an enigma begging for some traumatic backstory to staple her flaws together.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Some myths about private capital persist for small-business owners, especially around what an investment actually means for a company.
    — Frank Williamson, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • The tale of a girl on the verge of adulthood facing the threat of immigration agents and haunted by specters from Mexican folklore is told through live actors, sophisticated puppetry and an original score of Indigenous percussion.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Domingo plays the eldest daughter of a manananggal – a creature from Philippine folklore that can separate its upper torso from the lower part of its body.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of folklore
Noun
  • These event listeners enhance accessibility by enabling form submission or closure // when the user presses either the 'Enter' or 'Space' key.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There are no mod cons which means no keys, no sound system, no televisions.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of key
Noun
  • Ajon [Singh] talked a lot about that fable of the two wolves.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Is the morality fable at the end an allegory of purgatory or hell?
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of fable
Noun
  • The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, the whole rock-and-roll mythology is outside your door, as is The Comedy Store.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Most biblical scholars read the story of the flood in Genesis as part of a much older tradition of flood mythology from the ancient Near East.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • Save room on Monday, Wednesday or Friday for the chef’s table at Sokasi, a small wooden eight-seat outpost where traditional Balinese feasts are cooked right in front of you on a grill.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While customers drawn by the deal monopolized tables to gorge on order after order of shrimp, restaurants ran out of shrimp and turned away regular customers.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of table
Noun
  • The rich collections do a great job of honoring visual traditions and explaining their connections to real people and real places.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But the company is trying to balance those new strategies with its existing traditions.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 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 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on legend

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about legend

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