folk

[fohk]

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.

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.

folk

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• folkish adjective
• folkishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of folk¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of folk¹

Old English folc ; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse, Old High German folk

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   He enjoyed visiting his grandparents because they were just folks.

see just folks.

Example Sentences

Every Earth X extra is white — the folks on the street, the diners in a cozy family restaurant, the employees at A.R.G.U.S., the government agency Peacemaker works with.

From Salon

It is described as both the world's biggest folk and beer festival.

From BBC

And, he says, "I can't even imagine what the folks at Co-op and M&S have gone through."

From BBC

“We’ve got a technology that has great potential for good, is incredibly powerful, but is evolving incredibly rapidly, and we can’t miss a window to provide commonsense guardrails here to protect folks,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re pleased to have folks that want to visit and experience our city, but not at the expense of public safety,” Sterling said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• community 
• family 
• group 
• people 
• public