folklore

noun

folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlȯr How to pronounce folklore (audio)
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
folkloric adjective
folklorish adjective
folklorist noun
folkloristic adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Interestingly, many of these states have deep traditions of folklore and supernatural narratives. Devonne Goode, Parents, 23 May 2025 Micky van de Ven’s acrobatic goal-line clearance will go down in Spurs folklore. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025 Where Does ‘Sell In May’ Saying Come From It may be one of the most overused phrases in market folklore, but its staying power says more about investor psychology than performance. Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 The film is said to be rooted in Icelandic folklore, exploring what happens when the landscape itself becomes a force of reckoning. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for folklore

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of folklore was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

folklore

noun
folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r How to pronounce folklore (audio)
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
-ˌlȯr-ik
adjective
folklorist
-ˌlōr-əst How to pronounce folklore (audio)
-ˌlȯr-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on folklore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!