legend

LEJ-uhnd/ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/

14 meanings of legend

1
nouncountable or uncountable
Someone who is very famous and admired for what they have done.
Like a hero that almost everyone has heard of.
Pelé is a soccer legend known all over the world.
The old singer became a legend after years on stage.
Similaricon, giant, luminary, great, star
Oppositenobody, unknown
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2
nouncountable or uncountable
A story from long ago about amazing events, where no one knows who first told it.
Like a spooky story told again and again, but no one can prove it really happened.
The legend of the lake monster has scared children for generations.
Every village seemed to have its own legend about buried treasure.
Similarmyth
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3
nouncountable or uncountable
The part of a map that explains what its symbols and colors mean.
Like a little list that tells you what each picture on a map stands for.
Check the legend to find out what the green areas mean.
The map's legend showed that the blue lines were rivers.
Similarkey, guide
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4
nounslangAustraliaIrelandNew ZealandUKcountable or uncountable
A really great, kind, or helpful person, especially a man.
Like calling a friend a hero for doing you a big favor.
Thanks for helping me move all day. You're a legend!
My neighbor fixed my bike for free; what a legend.
Similarstar, hero, gem, champ
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5
noununcountable
Old stories that people have told for a long time but that have not been proven true.
Like a big pile of old stories everyone shares but no one can prove.
In legend, these hills are home to giants and spirits.
Much of what we know about the hero comes from legend, not history.
Similarfolklore, myth, lore, mythology, tradition
Oppositefact, history
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6
nouncountable or uncountable
A story about the past that sounds real, but no one can prove it truly happened.
Like a story about your great-great-grandfather that might be true but you can't check.
The founding of the town is more legend than recorded fact.
There's a legend that a king once hid gold in these caves.
Similarmyth, tradition, folklore, lore
Oppositefact, history
7
nouncountable or uncountable
A true story that has been stretched and exaggerated until it seems hard to believe.
Like a fishing story where the fish gets bigger every time it's told.
The fish he caught grew bigger every time he repeated the legend.
What began as a real rescue turned into a legend over the years.
Similarmyth
8
nouncountable or uncountable
The life story of a saint, especially one written to be read aloud.
Like a storybook about a holy person's life and good deeds.
The monk copied the legend of Saint Catherine by hand.
Each saint had a legend describing miracles and good deeds.
Similarhagiography
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9
nouncountable or uncountable
A fake life story made up for a spy, along with fake papers to back it up.
Like a made-up life story an actor learns, but used by a real spy.
The agent's legend said she was a traveling nurse.
A good legend needs real-looking papers and a believable past.
Similarcover, backstory
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10
nouncountable or uncountable
The words or motto written on a coin, a medal, or under a picture.
Like the words printed around the edge of a coin.
The legend around the coin gave the year it was made.
He read the Latin legend stamped on the old medal.
Similarinscription
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Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin words meaning "things that ought to be read," from a word meaning "I read." It first meant stories of the lives of saints.