mythology
/mɪˈθɒlədʒi/ (bre, ipa) · /mɪˈθɑːlədʒi/ (ame, ipa) · /mi-ˈthä-lə-jē/ (ame, mw)
mythology — noun
1. traditional stories that belong to a particular culture, especially about gods,
traditional stories that belong to a particular culture, especially about gods, heroes, and the origins of natural events or customs
Theo's favourite subject at school was Greek mythology, especially stories about Zeus and Athena.
collocation: Greek mythology / [culture] mythology
Many indigenous cultures have their own creation mythology that explains how the world began.
collocation: creation mythology
Darius wrote a report comparing the mythologies of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The hero's journey is a storytelling pattern found in mythologies from many different regions.
- folklore
broader term that includes myths, legends, customs, and traditions of a community, not just sacred stories
- legend
focuses on heroic tales that may have a historical basis, whereas mythology includes stories about gods and creation
- lore
less formal, refers to traditional knowledge passed orally within a group
文法句型
[culture] mythology
the mythology of [culture]
用法筆記
Often used with a cultural or geographical adjective such as Greek, Norse, or Hindu mythology. Can be countable when referring to specific bodies of stories, as in the mythologies of different peoples.
常見錯誤
2. a widespread belief that is accepted by many people despite being false or lacki
a widespread belief that is accepted by many people despite being false or lacking evidence
Tara explained that the right-brain creative type is a mythology without any scientific support.
that-clause: explain that + is a mythology
The old mythology that humans only use ten percent of their brains appears in movies and advertisements.
noun phrase: the mythology + that-clause
Andrew grew up hearing the mythology that working longer hours always leads to better results.
Among gardeners, the mythology that coffee grounds acidify soil has been passed down for years.
- myth
refers to a single false belief, while mythology often implies a collection or broader narrative
- misconception
more neutral and academic; does not imply the idea is widely shared
- fallacy
specifically a mistaken belief based on faulty reasoning; more formal
- fact
a statement that can be verified by evidence
文法句型
the mythology that + clause
a mythology about [topic]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the pattern the mythology that + clause to name a specific false belief. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense applies to modern misconceptions, not traditional cultural stories.
常見錯誤
3. the academic field that examines myths — their origins, meanings, and functions
the academic field that examines myths — their origins, meanings, and functions within the cultures that created them
Joon decided to study mythology at university because he loved ancient stories as a child.
collocation: study mythology
Élise is a professor of mythology who researches how ancient tales shape modern cultural identity.
collocation: professor of mythology
Talia's course in comparative mythology compares creation stories from different continents.
Christopher chose mythology as his major because he wanted to understand the deeper meaning of folk tales.
- comparative mythology
a subfield that compares myths across different cultures; more specific
- folklore studies
a related but broader field that includes myths along with legends, fairy tales, and customs
文法句型
study mythology
a professor of mythology
comparative mythology
用法筆記
Uncountable noun that names the academic discipline, not the stories themselves. Frequently appears as an academic subject (a department of mythology, a course in mythology). Do not confuse with sense 1.