urban myth
Widely believed falsehood
An urban myth is a widely circulated story presented as true but lacking verifiable evidence, typically involving bizarre, humorous, or cautionary elements that tap into common fears or fascinations.
These tales spread through word of mouth and, more recently, the internet, often attributed to a friend of a friend.
Classic examples include alligators in sewers or kidney theft rings.
Urban myth is interchangeable with urban legend, though myth emphasizes the story's dubious authenticity.
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- creepypastaUser-made online horror tales
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
- viral hoaxWidely shared false claim
copypasta · screenshot · going viral · trending · spread like wildfire
Unverified traditional tale
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
- tall taleWildly exaggerated story
- old wives' taleUnfounded traditional belief
- apocryphalUnverified and probably untrue
oral tradition · cautionary tale · campfire story · passed down · word of mouth · storytelling · local legend · cultural narrative
Deliberately untrue statement
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
- made-upFabricated, not factual
Snopes · fact-check · baseless · unfounded · fictitious · invented · disproven · too good to be true
Unverified secondhand information
- friend of a friendContact through shared connection
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
- whisperedSpoke without full voice
- spreadTo distribute widely
circulated · unsubstantiated · alleged · supposedly · they say · word on the street · grapevine
Urban myth about discarded pets
- kidney theftIllegal removal of filtering organ
- Bloody MarySpiced tomato vodka drink
- spider eggsUnhatched arachnid young
chain email
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- creepypastaUser-made online horror tales
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
viral hoax · copypasta · screenshot · going viral · trending · spread like wildfire
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- folktaleTraditional narrative passed down
- tall taleWildly exaggerated story
- old wives' taleUnfounded traditional belief
apocryphal · oral tradition · cautionary tale · campfire story · passed down · word of mouth · storytelling · local legend · cultural narrative · collective memory
fabrication
Deliberately untrue statement
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
made-up · Snopes · fact-check · baseless · unfounded · fictitious · invented · disproven · too good to be true · implausible
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- friend of a friendContact through shared connection
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
- whisperedSpoke without full voice
spread · circulated · unsubstantiated · alleged · supposedly · they say · word on the street · grapevine
alligators in sewers
Urban myth about discarded pets
- kidney theftIllegal removal of filtering organ
- Bloody MarySpiced tomato vodka drink
- spider eggsUnhatched arachnid young
- Misconceptionsmisconception, fallacy, false belief, mistaken belief, misbelief
urban mythpeer-reviewed study
Research validated by field experts
primary source · official record · eyewitness account · scholarly research · investigative journalism
urban mythnews report
Broadcast about recent events
historical account · documentary · journalism · nonfiction · case study
myth, urban, mythical, suburban, urbane, mythology, urbanity, suburbanite, urbanization