1
: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
The coyote appears in much of Native American folklore.
Paul Bunyan is a figure from folklore.
2
: a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore
a specialist in folklore
3
: an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated
the folklore about the health risks of computers
Examples of folklore in a Sentence
The coyote appears in a great deal of Native American folklore.
the rich folklore of Louisiana
He can't tell the difference between fact and folklore.
Recent Examples on the Web
In Howard Schwartz’s version of Rabbinic folktales, the images and storylines of Jewish folklore become colorful, polymorphic, and wondrous while never losing an aura of ancient scariness.
—
Jon Raymond
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
On a more somber note, some accounts suggest the presence of enslaved children in the building’s folklore, a haunting reminder of the region’s—and the home’s—complicated and painful past.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 29 July 2025
Animation rooted in traditional Chinese folklore, enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects, has proven to be a winning formula.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
In folklore and literature, encountering someone who could be your twin has traditionally been viewed as a bad omen.
—Alexa Juliana Ard, USA Today, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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Jon Raymond
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
On a more somber note, some accounts suggest the presence of enslaved children in the building’s folklore, a haunting reminder of the region’s—and the home’s—complicated and painful past.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 29 July 2025
Animation rooted in traditional Chinese folklore, enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects, has proven to be a winning formula.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
In folklore and literature, encountering someone who could be your twin has traditionally been viewed as a bad omen.
—Alexa Juliana Ard, USA Today, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folklore
noun
folk·lore
ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r 
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
adjective
-ˌlȯr-ik
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