Myth vs. Mystic — What's the Difference?

Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures.

Of or relating to mysticism or mystics

A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society

Deeply or mysteriously spiritual; mystical

Such stories considered as a group

Of or relating to religious mysteries or occult rites and practices.

A popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal

Inspiring a sense of mystery or wonder

A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.

One who practices or believes in mysticism or a given form of mysticism

A fictitious story, person, or thing

Of, or relating to mystics, mysticism or occult mysteries; mystical.

A traditional story which embodies a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; a sacred narrative regarding a god, a hero, the origin of the world or of a people, etc.

Mysterious and strange; arcane, obscure or enigmatic.

(uncountable) Such stories as a genre.

Someone who practices mysticism.

A commonly-held but false belief, a common misconception; a fictitious or imaginary person or thing; a popular conception about a real person or event which exaggerates or idealizes reality.

Remote from or beyond human comprehension; baffling human understanding; unknowable; obscure; mysterious.

A person or thing held in excessive or quasi-religious awe or admiration based on popular legend

Importing or implying mysticism; involving some secret meaning; allegorical; emblematical; as, a mystic dance; mystic Babylon.

A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.

Employing mysticism; as, mystical intuition; mystical explanations; - contrasted to logical, rational, analytical.

An invented story, theory, or concept.

One given to mysticism; one who holds mystical views, interpretations, etc.; especially, in ecclesiastical history, one who professed mysticism. See Mysticism.

A story of great but unknown age which originally embodied a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; an ancient legend of a god, a hero, the origin of a race, etc.; a wonder story of prehistoric origin; a popular fable which is, or has been, received as historical.

Someone who believes in the existence of realities beyond human comprehension

A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.

Having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding;

A traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

Relating to or resembling mysticism;

Relating to or characteristic of mysticism;