folk

1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• blood
• clan
• family
• house
• kin
• kindred
• kinfolk
• kinfolks
• kinsfolk
• line
• lineage
• people
• race
• stock
• tribe

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

Noun

But the folks who write the checks have become more risk- and conflict-averse, and relentlessly focused on turning a profit in streaming (or, in the case of Netflix, maximizing its profits). —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Some folks feel the need to fully disconnect from the digital world to understand this boundary. —Discover Magazine, 7 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

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

Phrases Containing folk

• folk art
• folk etymology
• folk hero
• folk mass
• folk medicine
• folk music
• folk remedy
• folk singer
• folk song

Kids Definition

folk

1 of 2 noun

ˈfōk 

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