folklore

1 of 2

noun (1)

folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlȯr How to pronounce folklore (audio)
Synonyms of folklore
1
: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
Paul Bunyan is a figure from folklore.
Like its predecessor, the game draws from elements of African folklore and spiritual beliefs.—Megan Farokhmanesh
2
: a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore
a specialist in folklore
3
: an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated
the folklore about the health risks of computers
folkloric
ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ik How to pronounce folklore (audio)
adjective
folklorish
ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ish How to pronounce folklore (audio)
adjective
folklorist
ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ist How to pronounce folklore (audio)
noun
folkloristic
ˌfōk-ˌlȯr-ˈi-stik How to pronounce folklore (audio)
adjective

folklorist

2 of 2

noun (2)

folk·​lor·​ist -rə̇st How to pronounce folklorist (audio)
plural -s
: a student of folklore
folkloristic
¦⸗ˌ⸗¦istik How to pronounce folklorist (audio)
-tēk
adjective

Synonyms of folklore

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Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of folklore in a Sentence

Noun (1) The coyote appears in a great deal of Native American folklore. the rich folklore of Louisiana He can't tell the difference between fact and folklore.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
According to folklore, Friday plus 13 equals a double dose of bad luck. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 But Jake Elsas said his research points to an origin that is less quaint than neighborhood folklore might suggest. — Brian Unger, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 The universe pairs real-world figures with young protagonists, folklore and mythical beings drawn from across the continent, with the goal of introducing Asian stories to global audiences. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 Day two kicks off with a Gyeongbokgung Palace tour to understand the Korean folklore behind mythological creatures with parallels to the movie’s evil boy band, Saja Boys. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for folklore

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of folklore was in 1846

Rhymes for folklore

See All Rhymes for folklore

Browse Nearby Words

folklike
folklore
folkloric
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

folklore

noun
folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r How to pronounce folklore (audio)
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
-ˌlȯr-ik
adjective
folklorist
-ˌlōr-əst How to pronounce folklore (audio)
-ˌlȯr-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on folklore

Nglish: Translation of folklore for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folklore

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