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 of ballad

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

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

This ballad, which speaks about how love endures despite physical separation, is an intense and honest effort by Fernández to carve his own path. —Natalia Cano, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026

Those ballads offer an avenue for getting in touch with grief that may prove for local audiences the most valuable element of experiencing this fine production. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026

Recorded over a two-year period, Blue Mountain, Weir’s first solo album since 1978’s Heaven Help the Fool, was a beautifully ambient collection of modern-day ranch-hand ballads, and Weir soon launched an accompanying tour. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026

Handsomely lensed by Alexandre Nour Desjardins, who uses lots of warm light to give the interiors a nostalgic bent, the film also benefits from a melodic score by Joseph Marchand, with other scenes set to vintage Soviet-era pop ballads. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026

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