urban legend

• Moderne Sage von unklarer Herkunft, die keine oder kaum bestätigende Beweise hat und sich spontan als Gerücht, Klatsch oder Volkstradition verbreitet, oft mit Elementen von Humor, Schrecken oder moralischer Lehre.

A modern story of obscure origin and with little or no supporting evidence that spreads spontaneously in the form of gossip, hearsay, or popular tradition, often containing elements of humor, horror, or moral lesson.

1. Modern FolkloreB2formal

   A widely circulated, often sensational story that is believed to be true but is actually false or unverified.

   Moderne Sage

   • The story about alligators in the sewers is a classic urban legend.
   • Many people still believe the urban legend about a killer in the backseat of a car.
   • She debunked the urban legend about the vanishing hitchhiker.

2. MisinformationB2informal

   A piece of false or exaggerated information that spreads quickly through a community, often via word of mouth or the internet.

   Moderne Sage

   • That story about the haunted house is just an urban legend.
   • Don't believe everything you hear; it might be an urban legend.
   • The rumor about the celebrity's death turned out to be an urban legend.