Origin: Greek suffix -ology
Mythology has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person
"Greek mythology includes tales of gods like Zeus and heroes such as Hercules that have been passed down through generations."
the study of myths
"The professor's lecture focused on mythology as an academic discipline dedicated to analyzing ancient stories and their cultural significance."
The collection of myths of a people, concerning the origin of the people, history, deities, ancestors and heroes.
"Greek mythology provides detailed accounts regarding the origins of the nation, its pantheon of gods, and legendary heroic figures."
In plain English: Mythology is a collection of traditional stories about gods and heroes that explain how ancient people thought the world began or why natural events happen.
"Many people enjoy reading about Greek mythology to learn ancient stories of gods and heroes."
Usage: Mythology refers to the collective body of traditional stories about gods, heroes, and origins shared by a specific culture or nation. Use this term when discussing an entire system of beliefs rather than referring to individual tales as myths.
The word mythology entered English in 1412 via Middle French and Latin from Ancient Greek. It originally combined the root for "story" with a suffix meaning "the study of," effectively creating a term that means "legend."