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

• song
• lyric
• hymn
• anthem
• vocal
• lullaby

Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

The crowd sang along with the musicians to the 2004 ballad. —Marina Watts, People.com, 14 July 2025

The elegiac ballad, released in 2022, comes at a moment of release for Jessica (Megan Stalter), who had just broken up with her boyfriend, Felix (Will Sharpe), when her dog unexpectedly died. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 July 2025

The ballad of Cher and Dionne has remained a cultural obsession ever since. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025

The emotional ballad released in May as the lead single from Mariah’s upcoming fourth studio album, and the track has already made waves at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 1 July 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