folk

1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk 

plural folk or folks

1

folk or folks plural : people generally

2

folk or folks plural : a certain kind, class, or group of people

old folks

just plain folk

country folk

media folk

3

folks plural : the persons of one's own family

especially : parents

4

: folk music

5

: the great proportion of the members of a people that determines the group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and superstitions from generation to generation

6

archaic : a group of kindred tribes forming a nation : people

folk

2 of 2

adjective

1

: originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle

folk hero

folk music

2

: of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people

folk sociology

Synonyms

Noun

• blood
• clan
• family
• house
• kin
• kindred
• kinfolk
• kinfolks
• kinsfolk
• line
• lineage
• people
• race
• stock
• tribe

Examples of folk in a Sentence

Noun

Folks say that house is haunted.

Some folks think the law should be changed.

a home for old folks

the distinctive speech of folks from the South

I'll be spending the holidays with my folks.

His folks gave him everything a kid could want.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The new design was paired with a necklace borrowed from her mother and a veil designed with white and (something) blue ribbons that paid homage to traditional Polish folk headwear. —Shelby Wax, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024

Love is not dead, folks — even in the Siberian cold, and good things do happen in Russia. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Adjective

As has been its wont for many years now, over its three days the festival offers a lineup that mixes folk and roots (however understood) and non-folk artists. —Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022

The songwriter in question is Phoebe Kreutz, darling of the New York City anti-folk movement of the early ‘00s. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing folk

• folk art
• folk etymology
• folk hero
• folk mass
• folk medicine
• folk music
• folk remedy
• folk singer
• folk song

Kids Definition

folk

1 of 2 noun

ˈfōk 

plural folk or folks

1

: a group of people forming a tribe or nation

2

plural : a certain kind or class of people

country folks

3

plural : people in general

4

folks plural : the persons of one's own family

especially : parents

visit my folks

5

: folk music

folk

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or originating among the common people of a country or region

folk customs

folk music