myth

Universal Words noun [C,U] 1 a story from ancient times, especially one that was told to explain natural events or to describe the early history of a people; this type of story: ancient Greek myths * a creation myth (= that explains how the world began) * the heroes of myth and legend 2 something that many people believe but that does not exist or is false SYNFALLACY: It is time to dispel the myth of a classless society (= to show that it does not exist). * Contrary to popular myth women are not worse drivers than men.