folklore

[ fohk-lawr, -lohr ]

noun

1. the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people.
2. the study of such lore.
3. a body of widely held but false or unsubstantiated beliefs.

folklore

/ ˈfəʊkˌlɔː /

noun

1. the unwritten literature of a people as expressed in folk tales, proverbs, riddles, songs, etc
2. the body of stories and legends attached to a particular place, group, activity, etc

   rugby folklore

   Hollywood folklore

3. the anthropological discipline concerned with the study of folkloric materials

folklore

1. Traditional stories and legends, transmitted orally (rather than in writing) from generation to generation. The stories of Paul Bunyan are examples of American folklore.

Derived Forms

• ˌfolklorˈistic, adjective
• ˈfolkˌlorist, nounadjective
• ˈfolkˌloric, adjective

Other Words From

• folklorist noun
• folklor·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of folklore¹

1846; folk + lore ¹; coined by English scholar and antiquary William John Thoms (1803–85)

Example Sentences

On his website, Bal described himself as a designer who "combines the right mix of history, folklore, village craft, and dying arts to create imaginative and innovative masterpieces for catwalks and fashion talks".

From BBC

Explaining the popularity of the bar among locals and travelers, hotel executive Adriana Zermeno, a native to Mexico City, describes it as a “mystical hideaway where cocktails are inspired by magic and folklore and crafted with care by a talented team of women.”

From Salon

She is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist with a background in traditional folklore dance.

From Los Angeles Times

"Folklore is always in a state of flux," Cooper says, "it's always changing."

From BBC

Every place has its own folklore - but now with the help of social media, more and more of it is being discussed online, enthusiasts tell the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• custom
• fable
• legend
• myth
• mythology
• superstition
• tradition
• wisdom