ballad

American  

[bal-uhd] / ˈbæl əd /

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.

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ballad British  

/ 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

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ballad ¹ Cultural  

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.

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ballad ² Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• balladic adjective
• balladlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of ballad

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

Explanation

A ballad is a song that tells a story, and it can be dramatic, funny, or romantic. You can find ballads in a variety of musical styles, from country-western to rock n' roll. The ballad is an old musical form. Ballads are often by anonymous composers, passed down from generation to generation. You may know “The Ballad of Jesse James," about the notorious bank robber, which dates from the 1880s and has been recorded by everybody from Woody Guthrie to Springsteen. A ballad can also be a slow, romantic song, the kind of thing crooners like Johnny Mathis and Bing Crosby made famous. The word ballad comes from medieval French balade, a dancing song.

Example Sentences

He brought out Kehlani for “Folded,” another perfectly regal ballad that revels in a small aperture.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

She debuted an absolutely dreamy rock ballad with guest guitarist Greg Gonzalez of the band Cigarettes After Sex, a longtime favorite of Karol’s.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

He even manages to pull off an a cappella version of the 2004 Mario R&B ballad “Let Me Love You” without drifting into cringe territory.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

She was an unknown artist in 1979, and she wanted to cut a ballad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

She proceeds to prove otherwise with a stunningly bad rendition of a Kelly Clarkson ballad.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan

Related Words

• chant
• ditty