folks

noun

plural of folk
1
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in world
human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work

Synonyms & Similar 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 folks The nonprofit has made adjustments recently — for example delivering hot meals on the weekend, instead of frozen ones for folks without power. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Tribal community members from across California are gathering this weekend on the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians’ land for an annual summer celebration, in which non-native folks are invited to join in. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026 There’s a reason why even former Biden administration folks are joining with Republicans and hosting fund-raisers throughout Michigan to support Mike Rogers. — NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026 But the folks who rent places without air conditioning may soon get relief. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 But the punt play folks will remember was the 84-yard return for a touchdown by San Francisco’s Jacob Cowing, who blew past Scott and the rest of the coverage team. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 The Fever guard had recently taken a stance against biological males competing in women’s/girls sports, and a few dozen folks showed up to express their gratitude for her position. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 And for folks listening to this, wanting to do the job themselves, my best advice on this subject would be try not to think too much in terms of streaming versus cable versus network versus podcast versus whatever. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026 There’s still time to bring a book to the beach, and the folks sharing on Goodreads have loads of ideas. — Ela Jalil, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folks
  1. family
  2. world
  3. people
  4. humanity
  5. tribe
  6. public
  7. house
  8. clan
Noun
  • The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Before her death, several Ruston businesses participated in a fundraiser to celebrate Lillian’s birthday and donate part of their proceeds to the family, according to CNN affiliate KNOE.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • Four suspects in the killing of former world champion boxer Zolani Tete were arrested, South African police said Monday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The two of them seem united by their need to prove themselves in a world of white men afforded the privilege and flexibility to be far more eccentric.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of world
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
Noun
  • Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The phenomenon may have a special appeal to youth in the region due to a culture of assembling in public areas, Frederick Luis Aldama, a humanities professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told CNN.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of humanity
Noun
  • Survivor loves a twist, including new variables, tribe swaps and hidden advantages.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Most of Chocó's 600,000 inhabitants live in poverty, according to figures published last year by Colombia’s national government, and it is largely inhabited by Indigenous tribes and Afro Colombian communities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribe
Noun
  • Nor was there any attempt to explain the rationale for going to war to the American public.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026
  • With insane gas prices in places like California this year, a Volt, or something like it, appeals to a significant swath of the American green-car-buying public.
    — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • In addition, an adjoining house—named Villa Ullastres—is available for guests seeking a separate and more private option while still being close to the heart of the hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • For Alexandre Gobillard, production director at the Gobillard & Fils Champagne house, beginning the harvest in mid-August was once almost unthinkable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Prince Harry and Meghan’s surprise homecoming will undoubtedly trigger a frenzy of speculation in Britain where the Windsor clan’s family dramas routinely grip the nation.
    — Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The historic home, situated between Via Rodari and Piazza Roma, dates to the 16th and 17th centuries and takes its name from a noble clan that included Pope Innocent XI, head of the Catholic Church in the late 1600s.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of clan

Browse Nearby Words

folklores
folks
folksiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Folks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folks. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All