1
: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
Paul Bunyan is a figure from folklore.
Like its predecessor, the game draws from elements of African folklore and spiritual beliefs.—
Megan Farokhmanesh
Megan Farokhmanesh2
: a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore
a specialist in folklore
3
: an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated
the folklore about the health risks of computers
Examples of folklore in a Sentence
The coyote appears in a great deal of Native American folklore.
the rich folklore of Louisiana
He can't tell the difference between fact and folklore.
Recent Examples on the Web
We were drawn to the emotional weight of estranged siblings and the idea of a curse that’s passed down, not just through folklore, but through family trauma.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Stephen Winick, a folklore specialist at the American Folklife Center of The Library of Congress, told NPR that experts don't know if either of those are true.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
Blending fantasy and historical fiction, this novel follows three women, connected by their relationship with Lasirén, a water goddess in West African folklore.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
However, since folklore is integral to Irish culture, these beliefs, customs, and stories are protected under Ireland’s heritage legislation through UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention (2015).
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Stephen Winick, a folklore specialist at the American Folklife Center of The Library of Congress, told NPR that experts don't know if either of those are true.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
Blending fantasy and historical fiction, this novel follows three women, connected by their relationship with Lasirén, a water goddess in West African folklore.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
However, since folklore is integral to Irish culture, these beliefs, customs, and stories are protected under Ireland’s heritage legislation through UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention (2015).
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folklore
noun
folk·lore
ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r 
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
adjective
-ˌlȯr-ik
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