Labyrinth
noun /ˈlæb.ər.ɪnθ/ — A complex maze; an intricate arrangement
Definition
A complex network of paths where it is difficult to find one's way — or figuratively, any intricate, confusing situation from which it is hard to escape.
Beyond the definition
The architecture of being lost with no reassurance that a way out exists. A labyrinth differs from a maze in one significant sense: it was designed.
Origin & history
From Greek 'labyrinthos' — possibly from Pre-Greek 'labrys' (double-headed axe), associated with the Palace of Knossos in Crete, where the Minotaur's maze supposedly stood.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The medieval labyrinth was not a maze to get lost in but a path for contemplative walking — one way in, one way out.
Bureaucracy is the labyrinth modernity built to replace the one Daedalus designed.
She found herself in a labyrinth of half-told truths and chose to stop walking.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Labyrinth” when the meaning fits your context: A complex network of paths where it is difficult to find one's way — or figuratively, any intricate, confusing situation from which it is hard to escape.
Synonyms
maze, warren, tangle, complexity
Antonyms
straight path, clarity
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Labyrinth" mean?
Labyrinth is noun meaning: A complex maze; an intricate arrangement. A complex network of paths where it is difficult to find one's way — or figuratively, any intricate, confusing situation from which it is hard to escape.
Where does the word "Labyrinth" come from?
From Greek 'labyrinthos' — possibly from Pre-Greek 'labrys' (double-headed axe), associated with the Palace of Knossos in Crete, where the Minotaur's maze supposedly stood.