1
: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
The coyote appears in much of Native American folklore.
Paul Bunyan is a figure from folklore.
2
: a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore
a specialist in folklore
3
: an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated
the folklore about the health risks of computers
Synonyms
Examples of folklore in a Sentence
The coyote appears in a great deal of Native American folklore.
the rich folklore of Louisiana
He can't tell the difference between fact and folklore.
Recent Examples on the Web
In Icelandic folklore, there is no Santa but there is the ogress Grýla, her lazy troll husband Leppalúði, their 13 children (the Yule Lads), and their cat Jólakötturinn (the Christmas Cat).
—
Chad De Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
One of Colombia’s many museums dedicated to the art of goldsmithing, this fascinating institution showcases instruments, jewelry and a wealth of other artifacts that shine a spotlight on the daily routines and folklore of the Colombian Caribbean’s native residents.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
While Japanese folklore links oarfish sightings to earthquakes, scientists say there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
All at once, Eggers pays homage to Schreck’s beast and contorts him entirely; honoring the folklore written by and about the people who truly believed these creatures existed and were terrified of them.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
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Chad De Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
One of Colombia’s many museums dedicated to the art of goldsmithing, this fascinating institution showcases instruments, jewelry and a wealth of other artifacts that shine a spotlight on the daily routines and folklore of the Colombian Caribbean’s native residents.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
While Japanese folklore links oarfish sightings to earthquakes, scientists say there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
All at once, Eggers pays homage to Schreck’s beast and contorts him entirely; honoring the folklore written by and about the people who truly believed these creatures existed and were terrified of them.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for folklore
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Dictionary Entries Near folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
folklore
noun
folk·lore
ˈfōk-ˌlō(ə)r 
-ˌlȯ(ə)r
: customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings of a people handed down from generation to generation
folkloric
adjective
-ˌlȯr-ik
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