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Definition of mystery

mystery

/ˈmɪs.tɚ.i/
mys · ter · y
Adverb:mysteriously
•
Plural:mysteries
•
Adjective:mysterious
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mystery Lexical Profile

mystery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Something that is difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify.

Example

"The exact purpose of the ancient stone monument remains a mystery to archaeologists."

2

A novel, play, or film dealing with a puzzling crime, especially a murder, and the process of solving it.

Example

"She enjoys reading a classic detective mystery on rainy afternoons."

3

The quality or atmosphere of being secret, obscure, or enigmatic.

Example

"An air of mystery surrounded the reclusive author throughout his career."

4

A religious truth that is comprehensible only through divine revelation, or the secret rites of an ancient religion admitting only initiates.

Example

"Historians have long studied the Eleusinian mysteries practiced in ancient Greece."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for mystery

• Nearby Words

mysterious
mysteriously
mysteriousness
mystery
mystic
mystical
mystically

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via Old French and Latin from the Ancient Greek 'mysterion' (secret rite or doctrine), derived from 'myein' (to close the eyes or lips), referring to initiates sworn to secrecy.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mystery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mystery
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