saga

American  

[sah-guh] / ˈsɑ gə /

noun

1. a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family, etc.

2. any narrative or legend of heroic exploits.

   Synonyms:

   history, tale, epic

3. Also called saga novel.  a form of the novel in which the members or generations of a family or social group are chronicled in a long and leisurely narrative.

4. a dramatic history of a group, place, industry, etc..

   the saga of the transcontinental railroad.

5. any very long story with dramatic events or parts.

   the sad saga of her life in poverty.

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saga British  

/ ˈsɑːɡə /

noun

1. any of several medieval prose narratives written in Iceland and recounting the exploits of a hero or a family

2. any similar heroic narrative

3. Also called: saga novel.  a series of novels about several generations or members of a family

4. any other artistic production said to resemble a saga

5. informal a series of events or a story stretching over a long period

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Etymology

Origin of saga

First recorded in 1700–10; from Old Norse: literally, “story, narrative, history”; cognate with saw ³

Example Sentences

The judge’s order slims down the scope of the celebrities’ legal battle in a saga of public mudslinging that has gripped Hollywood since the hit film’s release almost two years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

However, the legal saga is likely to continue with the company behind the project expected to lodge an appeal.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Micron Technology shares were on pace to snap a six-session losing streak Friday, with an analyst likening the recent market freakout over memory stocks to last winter’s DeepSeek saga that ultimately proved a blip.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

“Now that the WBD saga has ended, we think the scars on NFLX’s stock can begin to heal,” Cahall wrote in a research note.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell my father the entire humiliating saga.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram