noun
Uncommon
folklore
FOHK-law
Folklore (noun) means the traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and superstitions of a particular culture or community, passed down informally. Example: “The village's folklore included tales of a ghost that haunted the old mill.”
noun
1
The traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and superstitions of a particular culture or community, passed down informally.
"The village's folklore included tales of a ghost that haunted the old mill."
"Local folklore claims the lake is bottomless."
2
Informally, widely known ideas or claims within a field that are believed but never formally documented.
"It's programming folklore that rebooting fixes most problems."
How to use folklore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTraditional stories and beliefs passed down within a culture, or informally, "things everyone just knows" in a field.
Common pairings
local folklore
folklore and legend
according to folklore
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Word forms
- Plural
- folklores
Fill the gap
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The village's _____ included tales of a ghost that haunted the old mill.
Etymology
Coined in 1846 by British writer William Thoms, joining "folk" and "lore" to replace the older phrase "popular antiquities."
Class of 1846
folklore joined the language around 1846.
See the full Class of 1846 →
Rhymes for folklore
See all rhymes for folklore →Frequently asked questions
What does “folklore” mean?
The word “folklore” means the traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and superstitions of a particular culture or community, passed down informally. In plain terms, traditional stories and beliefs passed down within a culture, or informally, "things everyone just knows" in a field.
How do you pronounce “folklore”?
“Folklore” is pronounced FOHK-law (/ˈfoʊk.lɔːɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “folklore” in a sentence?
Here is “folklore” used in a sentence: “The village's folklore included tales of a ghost that haunted the old mill.”
What part of speech is “folklore”?
“Folklore” is a noun.
Where does the word “folklore” come from?
The word “folklore” dates back to around 1846. Coined in 1846 by British writer William Thoms, joining "folk" and "lore" to replace the older phrase "popular antiquities.".
Is “folklore” a common word?
“Folklore” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “folklore” have?
“Folklore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and superstitions of a particular culture or community, passed down informally.
