1
: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
Paul Bunyan is a figure from folklore.
Like its predecessor, the game draws from elements of African folklore and spiritual beliefs.—
Megan Farokhmanesh
Megan Farokhmanesh2
: 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
Groundhog Day is a seasonal tradition that traces its origins to European folklore, according to the National Weather Service.
—Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Other folklore subjects include the coyote, which appears on the book’s cover.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
This book shaped my understanding and use of folklore as a space of critical fabulation and a tool to examine and relay history through a postcolonial lens.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
The event will feature a live concert by Four Shillings Short, poetry and folklore for the Celtic bonfire festival of spring.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
Other folklore subjects include the coyote, which appears on the book’s cover.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
This book shaped my understanding and use of folklore as a space of critical fabulation and a tool to examine and relay history through a postcolonial lens.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
The event will feature a live concert by Four Shillings Short, poetry and folklore for the Celtic bonfire festival of spring.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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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