urban legend

• Histoire moderne d'origine incertaine, sans preuve ou presque, qui se répand spontanément sous forme de commérages, de rumeurs ou de tradition populaire, contenant souvent des éléments d'humour, d'horreur ou de leçon morale.

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.

   légende urbaine

   • 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.

   légende urbaine

   • 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.