folk 1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk How to pronounce folk (audio)
Definition of folknext
1
as in family
folks plural a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in class
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in people
folks plural human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

folk

2 of 2

adjective

as in tribal

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of folk
Noun
In particular, the new report found that spending at restaurants grew faster among lower-income folks than higher-income families. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 Moving the core of your business thousands of miles away from those folks — or forcing them to relocate — would have a massive negative impact on Paramount’s ability to compete. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. — Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 See All Example Sentences for folk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folk
  1. family
  2. class
  3. people
  4. tribal
  5. clan
  6. caste
  7. humanity
  8. ethnic
Noun
  • Medicaid, the federal-state program that covers healthcare for low-income families, pays for at least 40% of births nationwide.
    — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Roman said the question will be if the defense focuses on their own psychiatric experts right away, or Clancy's friends and family to humanize her to the jurors.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • One disappointing development for the rookie class came when Trost, the Rams’ third-round pick, had to leave in the first quarter with a hamstring injury.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Including the 2026 class, 329 people have been named Disney Legends.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of class
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people
Adjective
  • The three-member gaming commission was formed in 1988 to regulate casino-style gambling and promote economic development on tribal lands.
    — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Blanche has been working to assuage the concerns of GOP senators, traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and even taking a trip to Murkowski's state to meet with local and tribal leaders.
    — Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribal
Noun
  • Unlike many agrarian states, which relied on centralized bureaucracies and hereditary elites, Mongol political culture emphasized personal loyalty, military ability, and flexible leadership within clan networks.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The five-person clan (including a charming Max Greenfield as patriarch Ted, and Eitan Friedman and Matan Friedman as those wild brothers) live in relative domestic tranquility in Small Town Anywhere, USA.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • Tulu society is organized into several castes and communities, including Billavas, Shivalli Brahmins, Bunts, and Mogaveeras.
    — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026
  • No movement could represent every young Indian across the country's profound differences of class, caste, gender, language, geography and digital access.
    — Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of caste
Noun
  • The first tool for humanity that was forged by Tools for Humanity, in 2019, was a cryptocurrency called Worldcoin.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For the first time in the history of humanity, Shiva the Adiyogi introduced the idea that the simple laws of nature are not permanent restrictions.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of humanity
Adjective
  • Some 13,000 people died in Kosovo's war, which saw ethnic Albanians launch a rebellion to gain independence from Serbia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Aikebaer was Uyghur, while Bo was Han, China’s majority ethnic group.
    — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of ethnic

Browse Nearby Words

folios
folk
folklife
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Cite this Entry

“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folk. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folk

Nglish: Translation of folk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folk

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