folklore

1 of 2

noun (1)

folk·​lore ˈfōk-ˌlȯr 

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

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

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ik 

adjective

folklorish

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ish 

adjective

folklorist

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr-ist 

noun

folkloristic

ˌfōk-ˌlȯr-ˈi-stik 

adjective

folklorist

2 of 2

noun (2)

folk·​lor·​ist -rə̇st 

plural -s

: a student of folklore

folkloristic

¦⸗ˌ⸗¦istik 

-tēk

adjective

Synonyms of folklore

Noun (1)

• mythology
• tradition
• lore

Examples of folklore in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

Museum staff said the joke has become part of its folklore and reflects the city’s sense of humor. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026

Instead, like the Boston Red Sox and the ‘Curse of the Bambino‘, Mayo’s long years of heartbreak come wrapped in a cloud of superstitious folklore. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

The video begins with a voice-over of Moss’s character Katherine eerily describing the many facets of Baby Yaga, the witchy figure from Slavic folklore off which the show, and the original play, was based. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 July 2026

In some folklore stories, Lilith is a woman who ran away from Adam in the Garden of Eden to live a more independent life. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for folklore

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids 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

-ˌlȯr-ik

adjective

folklorist

-ˌlōr-əst 

-ˌlȯr-

noun