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 haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But beyond that story, there is the beauty of the song itself, a ballad where Sanz’s voice shines above a measured and subtle accompaniment and that speaks of the dissolution of love despite the best intentions. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2024 Laura Marling: Patterns in Repeat [Chrysalis/Partisan] Laura Marling’s first album in four years is a trove of nocturnal ballads and introspective lullabies recorded in the room with her newborn daughter. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2024 Payne’s inflections shined the most on ballads like these, where there was nothing but vocals and guitars. Thania Garcia, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024 Serving Whitney-caliber vocals on Tamar Braxton’s ballad, Aliyah was just jaw-droppingly good. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ballad 

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 9 Nov. 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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