plural folk or folks
1
folk or folks plural
: people generally
2
folk or folks plural
: a certain kind, class, or group of people
old folks
just plain folk
country folk
media folk
3
4
: folk music
5
: the great proportion of the members of a people that determines the group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and superstitions from generation to generation
6
archaic
: a group of kindred tribes forming a nation : people
1
: originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle
folk hero
folk music
2
: of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people
folk sociology
Synonyms
Examples of folk in a Sentence
Noun
Folks say that house is haunted.
Some folks think the law should be changed.
a home for old folks
the distinctive speech of folks from the South
I'll be spending the holidays with my folks.
His folks gave him everything a kid could want.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 18 Sep. 2023
Slightly thicker than Lululemon’s The Mat, this product may be a great option for folks wanting extra cushioning for their joints.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 18 Sep. 2023
Carrot is available as a free download via the App Store, with premium account subscriptions available for $4.99 per month for folks who want to unlock its full suite of features.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2023
At least for folks who would actually like to see a substantive conversation — or grilling — of past or future leaders.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
What the spreadsheet found might surprise some folks: Despite the mathematic complexity of Case-Shiller, there’s not much difference over the long term from the median price gauge.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Well folks, Matthew McConaughey has finally made it.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023
The steady rain that fell across parts of North Texas on Thursday brought beneficial amounts to some folks.
—Kxas-Tv (nbc5), Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023
Black people have necessarily learned this lesson over a long history of exposure to both violence and media depictions of it; asking well-meaning folks to stop posting videos of atrocities has become as much a part of the ritual of mourning as marches and memorials.
—Ana Marie Cox, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023
Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022
The songwriter in question is Phoebe Kreutz, darling of the New York City anti-folk movement of the early ‘00s.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022
The Moscow-born and Bronx-raised singer/songwriter/pianist has been performing for 20 years now, starting in the anti-folk scene in New York’s East Village.
—Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2022
Merrifield sought instead to explore folk magic through the material objects that the practitioners themselves had left behind.
—Geoff Manaugh, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2019
This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday.
—Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019
After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day.
—Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018
Programs such as soccer matches, a live animal show, free kids' activities, a book fair, folk art, and crafts, souvenirs and novelty items for sale will round out the festivities.
—Mark Holan/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 26 Aug. 2017
Classical musicians usually refer to their instrument as a violin, and most folk players call it a fiddle.
—Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, 20 June 2017
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Noun
Most folks would slice this chunk thinner and make three or four coffee tables, but this is going to be one massively hefty piece.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 18 Sep. 2023
Slightly thicker than Lululemon’s The Mat, this product may be a great option for folks wanting extra cushioning for their joints.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 18 Sep. 2023
Carrot is available as a free download via the App Store, with premium account subscriptions available for $4.99 per month for folks who want to unlock its full suite of features.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2023
At least for folks who would actually like to see a substantive conversation — or grilling — of past or future leaders.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
What the spreadsheet found might surprise some folks: Despite the mathematic complexity of Case-Shiller, there’s not much difference over the long term from the median price gauge.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Well folks, Matthew McConaughey has finally made it.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023
The steady rain that fell across parts of North Texas on Thursday brought beneficial amounts to some folks.
—Kxas-Tv (nbc5), Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023
Black people have necessarily learned this lesson over a long history of exposure to both violence and media depictions of it; asking well-meaning folks to stop posting videos of atrocities has become as much a part of the ritual of mourning as marches and memorials.
—Ana Marie Cox, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023
Adjective
As has been its wont for many years now, over its three days the festival offers a lineup that mixes folk and roots (however understood) and non-folk artists.
—Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022
The songwriter in question is Phoebe Kreutz, darling of the New York City anti-folk movement of the early ‘00s.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022
The Moscow-born and Bronx-raised singer/songwriter/pianist has been performing for 20 years now, starting in the anti-folk scene in New York’s East Village.
—Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2022
Merrifield sought instead to explore folk magic through the material objects that the practitioners themselves had left behind.
—Geoff Manaugh, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2019
This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday.
—Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019
After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day.
—Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018
Programs such as soccer matches, a live animal show, free kids' activities, a book fair, folk art, and crafts, souvenirs and novelty items for sale will round out the festivities.
—Mark Holan/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 26 Aug. 2017
Classical musicians usually refer to their instrument as a violin, and most folk players call it a fiddle.
—Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, 20 June 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'folk.' 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
Noun
Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of folk was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing folk
Articles Related to folk
Dictionary Entries Near folk
Cite this Entry
“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folk. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
folk
2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or originating among the common people of a country or region
folk customs
folk music
More from Merriam-Webster on folk
Nglish: Translation of folk for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of folk for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folk
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