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

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

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

The duo’s 2024 soft-rock ballad — which took home the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance earlier this year — also garnered nods for Best Collaboration and Best Pop Song. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025

Standing in place before finally dropping to her knees, without the slightest of scenic distractions, Erivo made the show’s signature epic ballad her own for six minutes. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025

Designed to fill breaks in the action and typically set to cheesy pop ballads, the kiss cam was a major innovation that shifted the focus from courts and fields into the stands. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025

Chappell Roan’s been teasing audiences with her newest power-pop ballad for over a year now. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025

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