Definition of legendnext
1
as in caption
an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart the legend indicated that a large circle represented a major city, while a small circle stood for a small town

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2
as in translation
an explanation or description accompanying a pictorial illustration the legend in the science textbook indicated that the accompanying picture had been enlarged by 1000%

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3
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature some ancient civilizations had legends about spirits that inhabited trees and rocks

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4
as in folklore
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place that story of how the world came to be has long been part of Native American legend

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of legend Norway’s goalkeeper was unbothered, smiling down at the legend of the sport. Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 The middle Saturday, for example, is the preserve of legends of just about every sport. Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Taylor Swift's Fourth of July parties have become the stuff of pop culture legend. Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper got an unexpected visit from a television legend live on CNN Friday night. Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for legend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legend
Noun
  • The photo was accompanied by a caption personally written by the princess.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
  • With a simple red heart as her caption, Johansen posted pictures of herself in the red jacket — that has Haaland's name on the back — as well as photos of herself in the stands as Norway took on Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Monday, June 22.
    Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite numerous myths, a cat's fur color does not impact its personality traits.
    Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • This is myth, and fisheries biologists know that pike do feed during the hot months just as other fish do.
    Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • And starring Barbie Ferreira as a vigilante web sleuth, their latest project successfully tapped into an earlier strain of viral folklore that resonated strongly with IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
  • Others, already on the flight home, leave with their reputations enhanced, their followers multiplied and their place in World Cup folklore secure.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The Airbnb logo appears on a mobile phone screen next to a key in Athens, Greece, on February 24, 2026.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Not to lose your messages and media, set up your Signal Backup (Settings -> Backups -> Enable backups -> View recovery key -> Copy to clipboard -> Next -> Enter the recovery key -> Next -> Continue -> Choose your backup plan).
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Explore the Wild West from the back of a rickety wagon as characters share famed fables about Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, Pecos Bill, John Henry and Hekeke.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • But the turtle/cat comment just sounds like a summary of Aesop’s absolute worst fable.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The threads that formed country music The American West generated its own mythologies.
    Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • What if Baahubali dies and has to go through the 14 realms of the afterlife in Indian mythology?
    Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • Guests also visited a memory table filled with photos of Love and her father together, along with some of his favorite things, including a football, weights and his scriptures.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Each exchange led to a conversation about how their traditions and lives differed.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Andronis describes the restaurant as a traditional Greek taverna set against the caldera cliffs, blending Greek traditions with Santorini’s romance and exclusivity.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Legend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legend. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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