folk
1 of 2noun
ˈfōk 
plural folk or folks
1
folk or folks plural : people generally
2
folk or folks plural : a certain kind, class, or group of people
old folks
just plain folk
country folk
media folk
3
folks plural : the persons of one's own family
especially : parents
4
: folk music
5
: the great proportion of the members of a people that determines the group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and superstitions from generation to generation
6
archaic : a group of kindred tribes forming a nation : people
folk
2 of 2adjective
1
: originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle
folk hero
folk music
2
: of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people
folk sociology
Synonyms
Noun
- blood
- clan
- family
- house
- kin
- kindred
- kinfolk
- kinfolks
- kinsfolk
- line
- lineage
- people
- race
- stock
- tribe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Folks say that house is haunted. Some folks think the law should be changed. a home for old folks the distinctive speech of folks from the South I'll be spending the holidays with my folks. His folks gave him everything a kid could want. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The Cat Attic, the folk-rock five-piece featuring mandolinist Richard Worsman. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2022 Zoldan, a prolific Ohio political donor to Republicans and Democrats, has booked Paul Simon, the 80-year-old folk rock icon, to play at Sept. 23 fundraiser in Canfield for Tim Ryan’s U.S. Senate campaign. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Darryl Hunt, known as the longtime bassist in English folk-rock band the Pogues, died Monday. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022 The guitarist and banjoist announced his exit from the folk-rock band in June 2021 in the wake of controversy that stemmed from his support of a far-right pundit. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2022 American folk-rock artist Shakey Graves will perform in Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday, August 26 at 6 p.m. as part of his world tour. oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2022 Björklund cut two elegant folk-rock albums as a steel-wielding songwriter, then played in Jack White’s backing band. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 Six months after the members of Crosby, Stills & Nash asked Spotify to pull their music from the streaming service, the folk-rock group’s songs have returned to the platform as of Saturday. Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 July 2022 Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022 The Moscow-born and Bronx-raised singer/songwriter/pianist has been performing for 20 years now, starting in the anti-folk scene in New York’s East Village. Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2022 Merrifield sought instead to explore folk magic through the material objects that the practitioners themselves had left behind. Geoff Manaugh, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2019 This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 Programs such as soccer matches, a live animal show, free kids' activities, a book fair, folk art, and crafts, souvenirs and novelty items for sale will round out the festivities. Mark Holan/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 26 Aug. 2017 Classical musicians usually refer to their instrument as a violin, and most folk players call it a fiddle. Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, 20 June 2017 See More
Noun
Pesaturo, Fuoco said, is a Guiness Book of World Records holder for playing accordion for the longest amount of time ever, and Mbrascatu plays modern folk-rock. Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The Cat Attic, the folk-rock five-piece featuring mandolinist Richard Worsman. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2022 Zoldan, a prolific Ohio political donor to Republicans and Democrats, has booked Paul Simon, the 80-year-old folk rock icon, to play at Sept. 23 fundraiser in Canfield for Tim Ryan’s U.S. Senate campaign. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Darryl Hunt, known as the longtime bassist in English folk-rock band the Pogues, died Monday. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022 The guitarist and banjoist announced his exit from the folk-rock band in June 2021 in the wake of controversy that stemmed from his support of a far-right pundit. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2022 American folk-rock artist Shakey Graves will perform in Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday, August 26 at 6 p.m. as part of his world tour. oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2022 Björklund cut two elegant folk-rock albums as a steel-wielding songwriter, then played in Jack White’s backing band. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 Six months after the members of Crosby, Stills & Nash asked Spotify to pull their music from the streaming service, the folk-rock group’s songs have returned to the platform as of Saturday. Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 July 2022 Adjective
The songwriter in question is Phoebe Kreutz, darling of the New York City anti-folk movement of the early ‘00s. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022 The Moscow-born and Bronx-raised singer/songwriter/pianist has been performing for 20 years now, starting in the anti-folk scene in New York’s East Village. Sean P. Means, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 July 2022 Merrifield sought instead to explore folk magic through the material objects that the practitioners themselves had left behind. Geoff Manaugh, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2019 This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 Programs such as soccer matches, a live animal show, free kids' activities, a book fair, folk art, and crafts, souvenirs and novelty items for sale will round out the festivities. Mark Holan/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 26 Aug. 2017 Classical musicians usually refer to their instrument as a violin, and most folk players call it a fiddle. Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, 20 June 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing folk
Kids Definition
folk 1 of 2
noun
ˈfōk
plural folk or folks
1
: persons of a certain kind or group
the old folk
rich folks
2
folks plural : people in general
Most folks agree with me.
3
folks plural : family members and especially parents
folk
2 of 2adjective
: created by the common people
a folk dance
folk music
folks
noun
1
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- family
- people
- tribe
- house
- clan
- kinfolks
- kinfolk
- race
- kindred
- kin
- kinsfolk
- lineage
- descendant
- household
- stock
- blood
- descendent
- dynasty
- line
- relative
- extended family
- kith
- offspring
- blended family
- nuclear family
- issue
- progeny
- brood
- seed
- clansman
- scion
- kinsman
- kinswoman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- origin
- descent
- extraction
- birth
- ancestry
- pedigree
2
as in people
human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work Synonyms & Similar Words
- people
- world
- public
- humanity
- society
- species
- humankind
- populace
- masses
- community
- crowd
- rabble
- proletariat
- riffraff
- mob
- rabblement