folk

¹folk

noun \ˈfōk\

plural folk or folks

Definition of FOLK

1

archaic : a group of kindred tribes forming a nation : people

2

: the great proportion of the members of a people that determines the group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and superstitions from generation to generation

3

plural : a certain kind, class, or group of people <old folks> <just plain folk> <country folk> <media folk>

4

plural : people generally

5

folks plural : the persons of one's own family; especially : parents

6

: folk music

Examples of FOLK

1. Folks say that house is haunted.
2. Some folks think the law should be changed.
3. a home for old folks
4. the distinctive speech of folks from the South
5. I'll be spending the holidays with my folks.
6. His folks gave him everything a kid could want.

Origin of FOLK

Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FOLK

Synonyms

blood, clan, folks, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Related Words

blended family, nuclear family; extended family, household, kith; brood; descendant (also descendent), issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed; clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative; dynasty

Near Antonyms

ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

Rhymes with FOLK

bloke, broke, choke, cloak, coke, croak, hoke, joke, moke, oak, poke, Polk, roque, smoke, soak, soke, spoke, stoke, stroke, toke, toque, yogh, yoke, yolk

²folk

adjective

Definition of FOLK

1

: originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle <folk hero> <folk music>

2

: of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people <folk sociology>

First Known Use of FOLK

before 12th century