Mystery picture addition The case was that of a murder. Definition of mystery noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Mystery fiction Cover of the pulp mystery-fiction magazine Mystery (January 1934) Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. While all these words 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, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes. something strange or not known that has not yet been explained or understood: 2. Mystery definition: anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. mystery noun Anything that arouses curiosity or perplexes because it is unexplained, inexplicable, or secret: Nov 1, 2025 · mystery (countable and uncountable, plural mysteries) The truth behind the events remains a mystery. MYSTERY definition: 1. mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. . something strange or unknown that cannot be explained or understood: 2. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. [1] 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. a story, often about a…. a book, film…. See examples of MYSTERY used in a sentence. Learn more. mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. Some common synonyms of mystery are enigma, problem, puzzle, and riddle.