legendary

legendary — adjective

1. used to describe a person or thing that is known to a very large number of peopl

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used to describe a person or thing that is known to a very large number of people and greatly admired for being exceptionally good, skilled, or remarkable in some way.

Example

The singer became legendary after winning six international awards in one year.

collocation: legendary + noun (singer)

Padma's legendary patience with difficult students made her the most respected teacher at the school.

Common collocations
  • legendary status
  • legendary figure
  • legendary career
  • legendary skill
  • legendary talent
  • legendary patience
  • legendary performance
  • legendary generosity
Synonyms
  • famous

    broader and weaker; 'famous' simply means widely known, while 'legendary' adds admiration and lasting reputation

  • renowned

    more formal in tone; 'renowned' suggests widespread respect, while 'legendary' carries a sense of being talked about over time

  • iconic

    emphasises representing an idea or era; 'iconic' is about symbolic status, while 'legendary' focuses on fame and admiration

Antonyms
  • unknown

    opposite in terms of public recognition

  • obscure

    suggests a person or thing few people have heard of

Grammar Patterns

legendary + noun

be + legendary

Usage Note

This sense is commonly used in both attributive position (before a noun, e.g. 'a legendary singer') and predicative position (after a linking verb, e.g. 'became legendary'). The noun following 'legendary' is typically a role, skill, or achievement that implies public recognition.

Common Mistakes

That singer is legendary' (when you only mean 'famous').
That singer is legendary for her incredible vocal range.
Use 'legendary' only when the person or thing is both widely known AND considered exceptional over a long period.

2. relating to people, creatures, or events that appear in traditional stories or m

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to people, creatures, or events that appear in traditional stories or myths that have been passed down through generations, often involving extraordinary or magical elements.

Example

A legendary creature called the dragon appears in stories from many cultures around the world.

collocation: legendary creature

Local tales say a legendary warrior named Eli defeated a giant with a single stone.

Common collocations
  • legendary creature
  • legendary hero
  • legendary king
  • legendary warrior
  • legendary city
  • legendary forest
  • legendary monster
  • legendary treasure
Synonyms
  • mythical

    broader in scope; 'mythical' includes purely fictional beings, while 'legendary' suggests stories with some claimed historical roots

  • fabled

    similar in register; 'fabled' emphasises being well-known from old tales, often with a wonderous quality

  • folkloric

    more academic in tone; 'folkloric' relates to the traditions of a community, while 'legendary' is the everyday word

Antonyms
  • historical

    opposite in terms of being documented in recorded history rather than tradition

  • real

    simple contrast with the story-based nature of legendary figures

Grammar Patterns

legendary + noun

Usage Note

This sense is almost always used attributively (before the noun it describes, e.g. 'a legendary hero'). It refers specifically to figures and places from tradition, not to modern celebrities. Distinguish from sense 1 (VERY FAMOUS), where 'legendary' describes real people admired for achievements.

Common Mistakes

The legendary god Zeus threw lightning from the sky.
The mythical god Zeus threw lightning from the sky.
Use 'mythical' or 'mythological' for stories about gods; 'legendary' is more common for human heroes and places from traditional tales that may have some historical basis.

Word family

  • legend
    nounB1
  • legendarily
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe someone or something well known, but they differ in intensity and connotation. 'Famous' is the most general — it simply means widely known, with no judgment about quality. 'Renowned' is more formal and implies a positive reputation built over time within a field. 'Celebrated' adds warmth, suggesting that people actively praise and enjoy the person or thing. 'Iconic' goes beyond fame to symbolic status: an iconic figure represents an entire era or idea (e.g. Elvis Presley as an icon of rock and roll). 'Legendary' is the strongest — it implies that the person is so exceptional that people tell stories about them, often across generations. For example, a local chef might be 'famous' in their city, 'renowned' among food critics, but only a chef who revolutionises cooking could be called 'legendary'.

famous ↗renowned ↗celebrated ↗iconic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • legendary status

Adverbs

  • truly legendary
  • absolutely legendary

Prepositions

  • legendary for
  • legendary in
  • legendary among

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'legendary' comes from the Latin 'legenda', meaning 'things that must be read'. In medieval times, stories about the lives of saints were read aloud in churches and were called 'legends'. Over the centuries, the meaning broadened to include any remarkable traditional story. By the 1800s, 'legendary' was also being used to describe living people whose achievements were so extraordinary that they seemed to belong to the world of legend.