Mythical describes something that exists in myths, legends, or imagination rather than in real life. Dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes are mythical creatures: people have told stories about them for thousands of years, but no one has ever found actual evidence they exist. The Greek hero Hercules and the Norse god Thor are mythical figures whose adventures have entertained people across centuries.

When something is described as mythical, it usually means it comes from ancient stories that cultures passed down through generations. These stories often explained mysteries about the world before science could: mythical tales told how the seasons changed, why volcanoes erupted, or where humans came from. The Roman god Neptune was a mythical explanation for why the seas could be calm one day and violent the next.

Sometimes people use “mythical” more loosely to describe something that seems too perfect or amazing to be real, like a mythical vacation spot that everyone talks about but nobody can quite find. They might also call something mythical when they suspect it doesn't actually exist, like a mythical shortcut to success that requires no hard work.