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

Her debut album, Skin, was released in 2021, earning a Mercury Prize nomination for its soulful, perceptive ballads.

From BBC

Even when Queen finished recording and left the studio, he had still not heard the song - with its range of styles including a ballad, operatic and hard rock components – in full.

From BBC

He is the inspiration for ballads and bumper stickers and T-shirts and coffee mugs.

From Los Angeles Times

He goes one further on The Famous Flower of Serving Men, delivering all 32 verses of the 17th Century revenge ballad in spoken word, laying stark the brutal violence at its core.

From BBC

Yungblud joined Tyler for the tribute’s grand finale, harmonizing and trading lines to finish out the emotional power ballad.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chant 
• ditty