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
Megan Farokhmanesh2
: 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
Examples of folklore in a Sentence
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
Featuring voice work from Coco Teehan Roche, the film reflects BAFTA and Emmy winning studio Cartoon Saloon’s interest in cultural folklore and environmental stewardship.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
My work combines my Nigerian heritage and roots, my parents’ use of color in Swiss foil laces and Dutch wax prints, and my love for storytelling and folklore, which my parents passed on to me.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the third season will dive deeper into the mythology of witchcraft, introduce new ‘spellbound’ families and feature some of the historical happenings of Salem, the infamous town of witch trials and folklore.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
The trio make their first trip from Shanghai to San Francisco, coming face to face with colorful monsters and spirits of both good and evil from Chinese folklore.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
My work combines my Nigerian heritage and roots, my parents’ use of color in Swiss foil laces and Dutch wax prints, and my love for storytelling and folklore, which my parents passed on to me.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the third season will dive deeper into the mythology of witchcraft, introduce new ‘spellbound’ families and feature some of the historical happenings of Salem, the infamous town of witch trials and folklore.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
The trio make their first trip from Shanghai to San Francisco, coming face to face with colorful monsters and spirits of both good and evil from Chinese folklore.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folklore
noun
folk·lore
ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r 
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
adjective
-ˌlȯr-ik
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