mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes. mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation. …

MYSTERY definition: anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. See examples of mystery used in a sentence.

MYSTERY meaning: 1. something strange or not known that has not yet been explained or understood: 2. a book, film…. Learn more.

If you talk about the mystery of someone or something, you are talking about how difficult they are to understand or know about, especially when this gives them a rather strange or magical quality.

Definition of mystery noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

mystery noun Anything that arouses curiosity or perplexes because it is unexplained, inexplicable, or secret:

Dec 14, 2025 · mystery (countable and uncountable, plural mysteries) The truth behind the events remains a mystery. The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, …

Dec 28, 2025 · Mystery novels are often called “whodunnits” because they turn the reader into a detective trying to figure out the who, what, when, and how of a particular crime.

Dec 26, 2025 · Mysteries and thrillers are enjoyable no matter the season, but there's something extra satisfying about curling up in the winter with a warm drink and an all-engrossing read. Here's what …

Something that is a secret: “From the first, some private trouble weighed on his mind, and since he chose to make a mystery of its cause, a biographer is bound to respect his wish” (Henry Adams).