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
It’s called ‘Spiral’ and it’s set in 1980s Ireland and dripping in folklore, repression and the strangeness of the Irish countryside.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
By Julie Beck Children have a folklore all their own, and the games, rhymes, trends, and legends that catch on spread to many kids across time and space.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The author, known for sinister tales like The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation, has built a reputation for reinventing classic horror tropes by weaving in Native American folklore and stories passed down from his grandmother, an elder of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
From cultural to regional to familial folklore, any Southerner is bound to believe in a superstition or two.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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.
Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
By Julie Beck Children have a folklore all their own, and the games, rhymes, trends, and legends that catch on spread to many kids across time and space.
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The author, known for sinister tales like The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation, has built a reputation for reinventing classic horror tropes by weaving in Native American folklore and stories passed down from his grandmother, an elder of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
From cultural to regional to familial folklore, any Southerner is bound to believe in a superstition or two.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 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 20 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
