mythical

[ mith-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a myth.
2. dealt with in myth, as a prehistoric period.
3. dealing with myths, as writing.
4. existing only in myth, as a person.
5. without foundation in fact; imaginary; fictitious:

   The explanation was entirely mythical.

mythical

/ ˈmɪθɪkəl; ˈmɪθɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to myth
2. imaginary or fictitious

Derived Forms

• ˈmythically, adverb

Other Words From

• myth·i·cal·ly adverb
• myth·i·cal·ness noun
• non·myth·i·cal adjective
• non·myth·i·cal·ly adverb
• pre·myth·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·myth·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·myth·i·cal·ly adverb
• qua·si-myth·i·cal adjective
• qua·si-myth·i·cal·ly adverb
• sem·i·myth·ic adjective
• sem·i·myth·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·myth·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·myth·i·cal adjective
• un·myth·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mythical¹

1670–80; < Late Latin mȳthicus < Greek mȳthikós of myths ( myth, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Going into 2016, that contributed to a sense that Wisconsin was a safe bet for Hillary Clinton — part of the mythical “blue wall.”

From FiveThirtyEight

Shown photos of a horse and a rhino, and told a unicorn is something in between, they can recognize the mythical creature in a picture book the first time they see it.

From MIT Technology Review

At Çatalhöyük a house wasn’t just a place to live but the material expression of a mythical world.

From Nautilus

A house wasn’t just a place to live but the expression of a mythical world.

From Nautilus

Like the mythical half-human, half-horse creatures, centaurs in the solar system are hybrids between asteroids and comets.

From Science News

What had seemed to be a theoretical and almost mythical project is just about to take concrete form.

From The Daily Beast

As a child, he worshipped leaders like Malcolm X and remembers having imagining Africa as a mythical place.

From The Daily Beast

Bulbous columns, winding staircases, and whimsical bas-reliefs of mythical creatures wrap around the palace.

From The Daily Beast

The notion of a “spread”—the mythical Texas ranch that every Texas cowboy hopes for—fueled his imagination.

From The Daily Beast

The philosopher, Plato, linked Santorini with the mythical lost city of Atlantis that sank beneath the waves.

From The Daily Beast

Directors were to us junior clerks, remote personalities, mythical beings dwelling on Olympian heights.

From Project Gutenberg

The Board of Trade is more or less a mythical body, but very practical I found it on these and all other occasions.

From Project Gutenberg

The Civilized Nations, however, had recorded annals not altogether mythical.

From Project Gutenberg

This humourist is gradually “winning his way to the mythical.”

From Project Gutenberg

The naked figures of these mythical beings are first completely and accurately drawn and then the clothing is put on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allegorical
• fabled
• fanciful
• fictitious
• imaginary
• legendary
• mythic
• storied
• unreal
• whimsical