1. removing mythical or legendary elements from a story, belief, or concept to reveal its historical or rational basis
Usage: present participle of demythologize; often used in academic and theological contexts
2. interpreting religious or sacred texts by separating literal mythological language from underlying spiritual or existential truths
Usage: theological and biblical studies usage; associated with Rudolf Bultmann's hermeneutical approach

Examples

• Scholars are demythologizing ancient legends to uncover the historical events that inspired them.
• The biographer spent years demythologizing the founder's life, separating fact from popular folklore.
• Demythologizing religious texts allows readers to extract meaningful moral lessons without requiring literal belief in supernatural events.
• Modern historians are demythologizing the Wild West by examining primary sources rather than relying on Hollywood narratives.
• The documentary focuses on demythologizing celebrity culture by revealing the reality behind carefully constructed public images.
• Theologians have been demythologizing biblical accounts to make them relevant to contemporary audiences.
• By demythologizing the company's origin story, the journalist revealed uncomfortable truths about its founder.