noun
myth
A widely held but false belief.
The idea that you must be wealthy to invest is a myth.
Etymology
Greek mythos means story or account. The modern false-belief sense emphasizes an account’s lack of factual truth, though other senses of myth concern traditional narrative without that judgment.
More examples
- She challenges the myth that asking for help shows weakness.
- The workshop dispels common myths about starting a small business.
- It is a myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Forms
myth · myths
Similar words
- misconception
- An incorrect understanding that need not be widely shared.
- fallacy
- A mistaken belief, often based on flawed reasoning.