folk

[ fohk ]

noun

1. Usually folks. (used with a plural verb) people in general:

   Folks say there wasn't much rain last summer.

2. Often folks. (used with a plural verb) people of a specified class or group:

   country folk; poor folks.

3. (used with a plural verb) people as the carriers of culture, especially as representing the composite of social mores, customs, forms of behavior, etc., in a society:

   The folk are the bearers of oral tradition.

4. folks, Informal.
   1. members of one's family; one's relatives:

      All his folks come from France.

   2. one's parents:

      Will your folks let you go?

   Synonyms: tribe, clan, people, kin, kinfolk

5. Archaic. a people or tribe.

adjective

1. of or originating among the common people:

   folk beliefs; a folk hero.

2. having unknown origins and reflecting the traditional forms of a society:

   folk culture; folk art.

folk

/ fəʊk /

noun

1. functioning as plural; often plural in form people in general, esp those of a particular group or class

   country folk

2. informal.
   functioning as plural; usually plural in form members of a family
3. informal.
   functioning as singular short for folk music
4. a people or tribe
5. modifier relating to, originating from, or traditional to the common people of a country

   a folk song

Derived Forms

• ˈfolkish, adjective
• ˈfolkishness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of folk¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English folc; cognate with Old Saxon, Old Norse folk, Old High German folk ( German Volk )

Word History and Origins

Origin of folk¹

Old English folc ; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse, Old High German folk

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. just folks, Informal. (of persons) simple, unaffected, unsophisticated, or open-hearted people:

   He enjoyed visiting his grandparents because they were just folks.

More idioms and phrases containing folk

see just folks .

Example Sentences

“We mourn the passing of Ella Jenkins, one of the most iconic folk musicians of the 20th century, who revolutionized children’s music and inspired generations of listeners around the world,” the label said Sunday in a tweet.

From Los Angeles Times

She believed that songs from foreign languages and cultures used interesting rhythmic patterns that children like, and her use of folk melodies and sing-along activity songs aimed to teach children the art of communication through music.

From Los Angeles Times

She didn’t have any formal music training, instead drawing on what was around her growing up: gospel music and call-and-response folk traditions.

From Los Angeles Times

Her business partner Bernadelle Richter, who originally hired her to perform folk music at an American Youth Hostel folk weekend, handled the business side of her career.

From Los Angeles Times

Sasha Boole: For more than 10 years, I was doing country and western folk music in Ukraine, trying to combine that with the Ukrainian soul and find new formulas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• community
• family
• group
• people
• public