folk

1 of 2

noun

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

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
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.
Noun
Our emergency management coordinator has been working hard the past few months to ensure we are stocked up and prepared in case another ice storm hits, including having an enhanced response and a plan to help keep folks warm in case of an extended power outage. Tom Kilgore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 That means Americans hoping to become homeowners won’t be getting any meaningful relief from lower borrowing costs, potentially shutting some folks out of a crucial part of the American Dream. Bryan Mena, CNN, 22 Nov. 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 See all Example Sentences for folk 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of folk was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near folk

Cite this Entry

“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folk. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

folk

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on folk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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