folklore

1 of 2

noun (1)

folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlȯr 

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

2

: 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

folkloric

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ik 

adjective

folklorish

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ish 

adjective

folklorist

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ist 

noun

folkloristic

ˌfōk-ˌlȯr-ˈi-stik 

adjective

folklorist

2 of 2

noun (2)

folk·​lor·​ist -rə̇st 

plural -s

: a student of folklore

folkloristic

¦⸗ˌ⸗¦istik 

-tēk

adjective

Synonyms of folklore

Noun (1)

• mythology
• tradition
• lore

Examples of folklore in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

Polish artist and designer Sonia Górecka often turns to folklore for her ethereal textile creations, mixing and matching traditional pagan figures and motifs on sheer curtains and colorful hanging jacquard weavings. — Francesca Perry, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Across Georgia, history, folklore and local legends linger in unexpected places. — Eli Goodstein, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026

The Beast of Bray Road is part of local folklore, with the creature allegedly first seen in the area in 1936. — Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Originating in pre-Islamic Arab traditions, the ghoul has long been a source of fear and fascination in Arab folklore, the scholar Ahmed Al-Rawi wrote in a 2009 article. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for folklore

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids 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

-ˌlȯr-ik

adjective

folklorist

-ˌlōr-əst 

-ˌlȯr-

noun