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 fiction can be contrasted with hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism. Mystery fiction can involve a supernatural mystery in which the solution does not have to be …

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

Jan 11, 2026 · 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.

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

MYSTERY meaning: 1 : something that is not known something that is difficult to understand or explain; 2 : the quality of being difficult to understand or explain the quality of being mysterious

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.

5 days ago · Noun mystery (countable and uncountable, plural mysteries) Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.

MYSTERY meaning: 1. something strange or unknown that cannot be explained or understood: 2. a story, often about a…. Learn more.

At its core, mystery is a literary technique that uses unanswered questions and concealed information to create suspense, intrigue, and a desire for resolution in the reader.