folklore

noun

ˈfōk-ˌlȯr How to pronounce folklore (audio)
Definition of folklorenext
as in mythology
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place the Scottish Highlands are rich in folklore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of folklore To their credit, several of them clearly took a great interest in learning basic Greenlandic words, facts, and folklore, and were eager to share. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 In traditional Han folklore, the baiji was the Goddess of the Yangtze. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 Innovative methodologies, including demography and quantitative analysis, folklore, material culture, oral history, and family reconstitution opened new windows into the past. — Drew Gilpin Faust, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026 Call it a curse or call it destiny, Kardashian’s success is a fusion of Armenian folklore and the American dream. — Marzia Nicolini, Vanity Fair, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for folklore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folklore
  1. mythology
  2. tradition
  3. lore
Noun
  • The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, the whole rock-and-roll mythology is outside your door, as is The Comedy Store.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Most biblical scholars read the story of the flood in Genesis as part of a much older tradition of flood mythology from the ancient Near East.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • The rich collections do a great job of honoring visual traditions and explaining their connections to real people and real places.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • But the company is trying to balance those new strategies with its existing traditions.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of tradition
Noun
  • Those are anthology series, however, and one season doesn’t necessarily flow directly from the previous one (the large pile-up of AHS lore aside).
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Now, the song’s goosebump-inducing bridge and juicy lore have captivated a new generation of fans, leading to steady streaming gains over the past three months.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of lore

Browse Nearby Words

folklifes
folklore
folklores
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Cite this Entry

“Folklore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folklore. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folklore

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folklore

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