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Meaning & use

legend

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈledʒənd/
US/ˈlɛdʒənd/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    An old story about heroes or events that many people believe, though it may not be fully true.

    Grammar: Countable for a story: the legend of King Arthur.

    Patterns

    • the legend of something

    The legend says a dragon sleeps under the hill.

    Local legend tells of a lost treasure.

  2. nouncountable

    A person who is famous and admired for great achievements.

    Grammar: Often before the field: a football legend.

    Patterns

    • a legend of something

    The singer is a living legend.

    He became a legend in the sport.

  3. nouncountabletechnical

    A key on a map or chart explaining its symbols.

    Grammar: Technical.

    Check the map legend for the trail symbol.

    The legend shows the colors for each region.

  4. nouncountablespecialist

    A short line of words on a coin, medal or picture.

    Grammar: Technical and uncommon.

    The coin bore a Latin legend.

    A legend under the photo named the place.

Word forms

plurallegends

Common combinations

urban legend
It's an urban legend.
local legend
Local legend says the house is haunted.
living legend
He is a living legend.
legend has it
Legend has it that the well grants wishes.
map legend
Use the map legend.

Synonyms and how they differ

myth
Myth is often about gods or a belief widely held and false.
icon
Icon is a person who stands for something.
key
Key is the plain word for a map's symbol guide.

Word family

legendary adjective
famous from legend or known by all

Commonly confused: legend or myth?

legend vs myth

A myth usually concerns gods; a legend is tied to history or a hero.

Practice

To learn what the red lines on the map mean, look at the ___.

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