folk 1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk How to pronounce folk (audio)
Definition of folknext
1
as in family
folks plural a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in class
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in people
folks plural human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

folk

2 of 2

adjective

as in tribal

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of folk
Noun
The rich folks live down near the water, and the poor people who service their homes live up in the mountains, in the hills that surround the beach town. — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026 Now with Daughter From Hell, Abrams once again combines bulletproof pop songwriting with a melancholic indie-folk aesthetic. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Adjective
This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. — Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 See All Example Sentences for folk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folk
  1. family
  2. class
  3. humanity
  4. tribal
  5. clan
  6. caste
  7. ethnic
  8. level
Noun
  • The family fought for three hours last July Fourth to stay alive after more than a summer’s worth of rain fell overnight on bone-dry soil, pushing the waterway from about 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • History shows family successions, whether in North Korea or Syria, tend to happen through rigid authoritarian control, with the transfer of power underwritten by whoever controls the military.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • The Hornets’ 2025 NBA Draft class received plenty of playing time over the past week-plus, logging extensive minutes.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Strain into a rocks glass or up into a cocktail class that’s rimmed with tajin (also optional).
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
Definition of class
Noun
  • There was a scattering of arts and humanities people who were paying attention to AI and who generally approached the technology with an attitude of open curiosity.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026
  • But only recently has this process been encoded so specifically onto the face, traditionally thought of as a portal to our humanity.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of humanity
Adjective
  • Bears Ears is jointly managed by an agreement between tribal nations and federal agencies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • But not all tribal governments have the resources to pay for these kinds of programs or take over management of BIE schools.
    — Savannah Peters, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Definition of tribal
Noun
  • Not to mention battling nerds, LARPers, and a particularly petulant McPoyle clan at the Renaissance Faire or sportswashing their way back into the good graces of their community by sponsoring a Little League team.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Like her big sister Mia, Lena has made a few royal and informal public appearances, from attending the Festival of British Eventing to joining the whole clan for Christmas at Sandringham.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 13 July 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • The engineer’s caste was Dalit, considered to be on the lower rungs of society, which allegedly made the engineer a target for harassment and discrimination from higher-caste managers.
    — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
  • To that point, human history was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies, a world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage and the many were ruled by the few.
    — Hilary Gowins, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Definition of caste
Adjective
  • Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populous province, has long faced a separatist insurgency led by ethnic Baloch groups seeking greater autonomy or independence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Across racial and ethnic groups, Paxton draws 59% of white voters, 13% of Black voters and 29% of Hispanic voters, while Talarico draws 37%, 80% and 61% of those same groups, respectively.
    — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of ethnic
Noun
  • More than 80 people were evacuated from riverside campgrounds before floodwaters reached dangerous levels, the governor said.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The body of a second victim was recovered Thursday following the sinking of a three-level yacht near Alcatraz Island and has been identified by San Francisco authorities as a Sacramento County resident.
    — Michael McGough Updated July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of level

Browse Nearby Words

folios
folk
folklife
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Cite this Entry

“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folk. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folk

Nglish: Translation of folk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folk

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