ballad

[bal-uhd]

noun

1. any light, simple song, especially one of sentimental or romantic character, having two or more stanzas all sung to the same melody.

2. a simple narrative poem of folk origin, composed in short stanzas and adapted for singing.

3. any poem written in similar style.

4. the music for a ballad.

5. a sentimental or romantic popular song.

ballad

/ ˈbæləd /

noun

1. a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

2. a narrative poem in short stanzas of popular origin, originally sung to a repeated tune

3. a slow sentimental song, esp a pop song

ballad

¹

1. A simple narrative song, or a narrative poem suitable for singing. The ballad usually has a short stanza, such as:

   There are twelve months in all the year,

   As I hear many men say,

   But the merriest month in all the year

   Is the merry month of May.

ballad

²

1. A simple narrative song, or, alternatively, a narrative poem suitable for singing. (See under “Conventions of Written English.”)

Other Word Forms

• balladic adjective
• balladlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballad¹

1350–1400; Middle English balade < Middle French < Old Provençal balada dance, dancing-song, equivalent to bal ( ar ) to dance (< Late Latin ballāre; ball ² ) + -ada -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballad¹

C15: from Old French balade , from Old Provençal balada song accompanying a dance, from balar to dance, from Late Latin ballāre ; see _ball ²

Example Sentences

“I was like, ‘I’m-a win ’em over with this one,’” she says of the dramatic ballads.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The whereabouts of Franklin and his men would become one of the world’s greatest mysteries, inspiring scores of books, poems, and ballads.

Read more on Literature

The result is a tender, bittersweet ballad to anyone who feels they may not be fully over yet, especially when indications say otherwise.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Mio Cristo” is a delicate and airy ballad about forgiveness sung in Italian, which puts her in an operatic frame of mind.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Darbyshire's vocals gave the group a soulful edge, particularly on the brooding ballad Room In Your Heart.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• chant 
• ditty