ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈba-ləd How to pronounce ballad (audio)
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 adjective

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a ballad about King Arthur a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Recent Examples on the Web The spare, introspective ballad could well be a sign of things to come on the Happier Than Ever follow-up. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 The ballad dropped along with a brand-new music video (directed by Sam Wrench) showcasing Platt’s insane vocal range. Meredith Woerner, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 The Christian ballad about a woman surrendering to a higher power in an emergency was the American Idol alum’s first number-one single. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024 Van Halen, who is also son of the late Eddie Van Halen, plays guitar on the '80s rock ballad alongside Slash and Josh Freese on the drums. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2024 The somber pop ballad helped propel Eilish to fame and became certified gold. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Since the Mexican Revolution, these ballads have narrated bloody, violent battles and laid out tales of corruption and poverty. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 Best Actress Nominees Emma Stone, Annette Bening and Lily Gladstone Embrace at 2024 Oscars According to Stone, the mishap occurred as her La La Land costar performed his epic Barbie ballad. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Her first big ballad has hung on to its standing as her best big ballad, a soaring emotional prom theme for the ages that somehow breathes new life into a premise as cliched as spying someone hot across a crowded dance floor and moving in for the kill. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ballad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballad was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near ballad

Cite this Entry

“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballad. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ballad

noun
bal·​lad ˈbal-əd How to pronounce ballad (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on ballad

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