folk

American  

[fohk] / foʊk /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) Usually folks. people in general.

   Folks say there wasn't much rain last summer.

2. (used with a plural verb) Often folks. people of a specified class or group.

   country folk; poor folks.

3. (used with a plural verb) people as the carriers of culture, especially as representing the composite of social mores, customs, forms of behavior, etc., in a society.

   The folk are the bearers of oral tradition.

4. Informal. folks,

   1. members of one's family; one's relatives.

      All his folks come from France.

   2. one's parents.

      Will your folks let you go?

   Synonyms:

   tribe, clan, people, kin, kinfolk

5. Archaic. a people or tribe.

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adjective

1. of or originating among the common people.

   folk beliefs; a folk hero.

2. having unknown origins and reflecting the traditional forms of a society.

   folk culture; folk art.

idioms

1. just folks, (of persons) simple, unaffected, unsophisticated, or open-hearted people.

   He enjoyed visiting his grandparents because they were just folks.

folk British  

/ fəʊk /

noun

1. (functioning as plural; often plural in form) people in general, esp those of a particular group or class

   country folk

2. informal (functioning as plural; usually plural in form) members of a family

3. informal (functioning as singular) short for folk music

4. a people or tribe

5. (modifier) relating to, originating from, or traditional to the common people of a country

   a folk song

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folk More Idioms  

1. see just folks.

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Other Word Forms

• folkish adjective
• folkishness noun

Etymology

Origin of folk

before 900; Middle English; Old English folc; cognate with Old Saxon, Old Norse folk, Old High German folk ( German Volk )

Example Sentences

The motel was a magnet for rock-and-rollers and folk artists seeking affordable housing close to the bustling Hollywood music scene.

From Los Angeles Times

“The cost of living is very high, and component costs are increasing with folks citing tariffs and other price increases.”

From Barron's

This no-device speakeasy would be less structured around work and more like a hangout: Someone just kicks off a conversation and folks follow on.

From The Wall Street Journal

These folks are way beyond asking if the boulangeries are out of brioche as well as baguettes.

From MarketWatch

The back of the distillery unofficially doubles as one of the city’s great galleries, displaying the owners’ expansive folk art collection from floor to ceiling.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• community
• family
• group
• people
• public