folktale

noun

folk·​tale ˈfōk-ˌtāl How to pronounce folktale (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Baum’s story has inspired many spin-offs and variations, similar to how a folktale like Beauty and the Beast has been endlessly remixed and retold. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024 Directed by Hiroshi Nagahama — who has touched on horror folktales before with the excellent Mushi-shi — the story is about a town suffering from a curse that manifests through spirals. Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024 Nair’s early exposure to traditional folktales and the lush landscapes of his homeland would later inform his distinct narrative style. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024 According to the scholar Maria Tatar, these were folktales shared among adults after hours, while the children were asleep. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for folktale 

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of folktale was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near folktale

Cite this Entry

“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folktale. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

folktale

noun
folk·​tale -ˌtāl How to pronounce folktale (audio)
: a story made up and handed down by the common people

More from Merriam-Webster on folktale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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