mythological
mythological — adjective
1. Describing characters, places, events, or beliefs that come from the traditional
Describing characters, places, events, or beliefs that come from the traditional stories a culture tells about its gods, heroes, and the origins of the world.
Hana loved reading about mythological creatures like the phoenix in Chinese folk tales.
collocation: mythological creatures
Christopher's art project showed scenes from several ancient mythological traditions around the world.
collocation: mythological traditions
The museum had a room full of bronze statues of mythological heroes from Greek stories.
Amihan's grandmother told her mythological stories about gods and heroes every night before bed.
For her history project, Meera compared mythological creation stories from Japan, India, and Greece.
- mythical
More common in everyday speech; 'mythical' can also mean 'imaginary,' while 'mythological' stays closer to 'from ancient stories.'
- legendary
Often describes heroes or events from more recent or semi-historical traditions, not necessarily involving gods.
- folkloric
Focuses on the oral tradition and customs of ordinary people rather than formal myths about gods.
- fabled
Carries a literary or old-fashioned tone; often used for creatures or places that are famous in stories ('fabled city of gold').
- historical
Based on recorded facts rather than traditional stories.
- factual
Supported by evidence rather than cultural tradition.
文法句型
mythological + noun describing a story, being, or place
be + mythological
用法筆記
Most often used before a noun (attributive position) to describe traditional tales and the beings within them. When used predicatively, as in 'these stories are mythological,' the emphasis is on the cultural origin rather than on factual truth.
常見錯誤
2. Used to describe a claim, belief, or idea that people repeat or accept even thou
Used to describe a claim, belief, or idea that people repeat or accept even though it has no basis in facts or evidence.
Yael dismissed the mythological story about the haunted house after she saw the hidden wires.
critical use: mythological story with no evidence
The mythological promise of instant wealth convinced many people to invest their savings.
Stefan's account of meeting a famous singer turned out to be completely mythological.
The mythological claim about the treasure spread across the internet despite evidence against it.
João asked for proof instead of believing the mythological tales about past company success.
- mythical
More frequent than 'mythological' in this meaning; 'mythical' is the usual choice for everyday dismissal of a claim.
- imaginary
Focuses on the invention in someone's mind rather than on the spread of a shared false belief.
- fictional
Neutral and factual; implies something was deliberately invented as a story, not necessarily believed.
- unfounded
More formal; suggests a claim lacks evidence without implying it originated from storytelling.
- real
Based on actual existence rather than invention.
- factual
Supported by verifiable evidence.
- authenticated
Officially confirmed as genuine or true.
文法句型
mythological + abstract noun (claim, promise, tale)
be + mythological
用法筆記
This sense often carries a skeptical or dismissive tone — the speaker is distancing themselves from an idea they consider unsupported. Common in journalism and debate. Distinguish from Sense 1 (ANCIENT STORIES): if the topic is about actual ancient cultural traditions, use Sense 1; if it is about a modern belief or rumour with no evidence, use this sense.