: a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a people
Examples of folktale in a Sentence
West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling.
Recent Examples on the Web
From causing supernatural events to creating hysteria, our orbiting nightlight has always had legends and folktales written about it.
—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
28 June 2026
Traditionally played on string instruments like the dulcimer, fiddle, and banjo, this distinctly twangy genre passed down religious hymns, ballads, and folktales through generations.
—
Hillary Richard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
Comprising more than 300 folktales and legends from northern Norway, including many from the coastal Sámi and the Skolt Sámi of eastern Finland, this anthology shares narratives told by fishers, farmers, reindeer herders, lay preachers and teachers.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly A collection of African American folktales rooted in oral tradition—stories carried across generations, shaped by memory, resistance, and imagination.
—
Edwin B. Maxwell,
Literary Hub,
22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folktale
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Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
28 June 2026
Traditionally played on string instruments like the dulcimer, fiddle, and banjo, this distinctly twangy genre passed down religious hymns, ballads, and folktales through generations.
—
Hillary Richard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
Comprising more than 300 folktales and legends from northern Norway, including many from the coastal Sámi and the Skolt Sámi of eastern Finland, this anthology shares narratives told by fishers, farmers, reindeer herders, lay preachers and teachers.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly A collection of African American folktales rooted in oral tradition—stories carried across generations, shaped by memory, resistance, and imagination.
—
Edwin B. Maxwell,
Literary Hub,
22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Cite this Entry
“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folktale. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folktale
noun
folk·tale
-ˌtāl 
: a story made up and handed down by the common people
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