myth

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

myth [myth myths] BrE [mɪθ] NAmE [mɪθ] noun countable, uncountable
1. a story from ancient times, especially one that was told to explain natural events or to describe the early history of a people; this type of story
Syn: ↑legend
•ancient Greek myths
•a creation myth (= that explains how the world began)
•the heroes of myth and legend
2. something that many people believe but that does not exist or is false
Syn: ↑fallacy
•It is time to dispel the myth of a classless society (= to show that it does not exist).
•Contrary to popular myth, women are not worse drivers than men.
see also ↑urban myth

Word Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin mythus, via late Latin from Greek muthos.

Example Bank:
•Contrary to popular myth, women are not worse drivers than men.
•How did the myth get so firmly established in the popular consciousness?
•It's a complete myth that he has royal blood.
•It's a total myth that this causes blindness.
•People's faith in the Emperor was based on the myth that he was infallible.
•Propaganda has turned the former president into a heroic myth.
•The battle has become part of national myth.
•The film tears down the cosy myths about fair play in war.
•The myth persists that men are more intelligent than women.
•The propaganda of both sides relies heavily on historical myth.
•There is a great myth that all sports players are stupid.
•There is a great myth that people who wear glasses are more intelligent.
•We are trying to lay to rest the myths surrounding mental illness.
•Women have peddled the myth that all decent men are either married or gay.
•a popular myth about twins
•an attempt to perpetuate the myth of racial superiority
•perpetuating the myth of racial superiority
•the creation myths of the Eskimos
•the myth about the golden apple
•It is time to dispel the myth of the classless society.
•It's a myth that cats only swish their tails when they are angry.
•The story parallels the creation myth of the ancient Babylonians.