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
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
His designs explore a mixture of Filipino and Western dark folklore, blending elements like bat wings and vampire aesthetics with streetwear and menswear.
—
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Mexico beachgoers were treated to a rare sighting earlier this month of a shimmering oarfish, native to the deep sea and seen in Japanese folklore as a signal of impending doom.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Beachgoers in Mexico caught a rare glimpse of a shimmering oarfish, which is seen in folklore as a sign of impending doom and has sparked concerns on social media.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Animation rooted in traditional Chinese folklore, enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects, has proven to be a winning formula.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
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Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Mexico beachgoers were treated to a rare sighting earlier this month of a shimmering oarfish, native to the deep sea and seen in Japanese folklore as a signal of impending doom.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Beachgoers in Mexico caught a rare glimpse of a shimmering oarfish, which is seen in folklore as a sign of impending doom and has sparked concerns on social media.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Animation rooted in traditional Chinese folklore, enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects, has proven to be a winning formula.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folklore
Articles Related to folklore
Cite this Entry
“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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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