: a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a people
Examples of folktale in a Sentence
West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their stories were not even preserved in the usual repositories of collective memory, such as folktale, song, and dance, Morrison speculated, because those who crossed the Atlantic with them would have been loath to share their memories.
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Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The story, based on Venezuelan folktales, is exciting and thought-provoking.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
This relationship brings another level to the film, as Kotevska weaves in the titular folktale of Silyan, about another lonely man and his stork.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Below, see the streamer’s list of authors to watch, from contemporary folktales and family dramas to dark fantasy and spicy time travel tales.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
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Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The story, based on Venezuelan folktales, is exciting and thought-provoking.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
This relationship brings another level to the film, as Kotevska weaves in the titular folktale of Silyan, about another lonely man and his stork.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Below, see the streamer’s list of authors to watch, from contemporary folktales and family dramas to dark fantasy and spicy time travel tales.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Cite this Entry
“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folktale. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folktale
noun
folk·tale
-ˌtāl 
: a story made up and handed down by the common people
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