A tall tale is a type of story that contains unbelievable elements, but is related as if it were true and factual. Some tall tales are exaggerations of actual events, while others are completely fictional tales set in a familiar setting, such as the American frontier, the Canadian Northwest, or the Australian outback. The tone of tall tales is generally good-natured, and events are often told in a way that makes the narrator seem to have been a part of the story. Legends are differentiated from tall tales primarily by age; many legends exaggerate the exploits of their heroes, but in tall tales, the exaggeration looms large, to the extent of dominating the story.

Tall tales are a key part of American folk literature and are believed to have originated from the bragging contests that tough American frontiersmen would start when they gathered around a fire. Most tall tales come from the 1800s, when courageous explorers had exciting adventures on their way to the Wild West. Popular tall tale characters from American folklore include Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, and John Henry.

Tall tales are often taught in classrooms as part of a literary unit or a writing unit.