ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈba-ləd 

1

a

: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing

a ballad about King Arthur

b

: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad

2

: a simple song : air

3

: a popular song

especially : a slow romantic or sentimental song

a ballad they danced to at their wedding reception

balladic

bə-ˈla-dik 

ba-

adjective

Synonyms

• song
• lyric
• hymn
• anthem
• vocal
• lullaby

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

Idols also shows how Yungblud’s bellow is tailor-made for cathartic ballads. —Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

But Heart veers away from the Christian-college coffeehouse vibes and the stomping, whooping ballads of the debut album and the big hit. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 20 June 2025

Her third album — full of synthy dance-pop songs (with a token ballad thrown into the mix) — is mostly memorable for its edgy music video for the lead single, the title track. —Brendan Le, People.com, 18 June 2025

The possibly confused, wound-up Holmes is a world away from Mister Romantic, the long-running alter ego behind Reilly’s new album of romance ballads, What’s Not To Love. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English balad, balade, ballade, balett "poem or song in stanza form, poem or stanza in rhyme royal or a similar form," borrowed from Middle French balade, going back to Old French barade, balade "song to be danced to, short poem to be sung," borrowed from Old Occitan ballada, from ballar "to dance" (going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -ada -ade — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing ballad

• ballad stanza

Rhymes for ballad

• pallid
• salad
• valid

Kids Definition

ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈbal-əd 

1

: a poem that tells a story of adventure, of romance, or of a hero, that is suitable for singing, and that usually has stanzas of four lines with a rhyme on the second and fourth lines

2

: a simple song

3

: a usually slow or sentimental popular song