ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈba-ləd 

1

a

: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing

a ballad about King Arthur

b

: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad

2

: a simple song : air

3

: a popular song

especially : a slow romantic or sentimental song

a ballad they danced to at their wedding reception

balladic

bə-ˈla-dik 

ba-

adjective

Synonyms

• ditty
• jingle
• lay
• lyric
• song
• vocal

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

The track, which will appear on Perfume Genius’ upcoming album, Glory, is a multi-faceted epic, filled with sudden tempo changes and atmospheric swings from tender folk ballad to resonant alt-rock glory. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025

The group, known for their slow jams and heartfelt ballads, met with lawmakers on Valentines Day eve to deliver a letter signed by more than 300 artists calling for swift passage of the American Music Fairness Act. —Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025

The score itself is a swelling success, but too often the story slows to a halt as the first few notes of the next ballad trickle in. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2025

Like a Bird Sing Sing Texas musicians Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada collaborated on this bittersweet ballad that concludes Greg Kwedar’s prison drama starring Colman Domingo. —Jon Burlingame, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English balad, balade, ballade, balett "poem or song in stanza form, poem or stanza in rhyme royal or a similar form," borrowed from Middle French balade, going back to Old French barade, balade "song to be danced to, short poem to be sung," borrowed from Old Occitan ballada, from ballar "to dance" (going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -ada -ade — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing ballad

• ballad stanza

Rhymes for ballad

• pallid
• salad
• valid

Kids Definition

ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈbal-əd 

1

: a poem that tells a story of adventure, of romance, or of a hero, that is suitable for singing, and that usually has stanzas of four lines with a rhyme on the second and fourth lines

2

: a simple song

3

: a usually slow or sentimental popular song