folk song

American  

noun

• folk songs
  plural

1. a song originating among the people of a country or area, passed by oral tradition from one singer or generation to the next, often existing in several versions, and marked generally by simple, modal melody and stanzaic, narrative verse.

2. a song of similar character written by a known composer.

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folk song British  

noun

1. a song of which the music and text have been handed down by oral tradition among the common people

2. a modern song which employs or reflects the folk idiom

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• folk songs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of folk song

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

folk song

ARIRANG, named after a South Korean folk song, includes mostly English lyrics but explores themes including Korean identity after the band's hiatus for mandatory military service.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

“De Colores” is a traditional Mexican folk song that made its way to the Americas from Spain during the 16th century, and here Price is accompanied by the Memphis Mariachi.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

The Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune, written in the style of an Austrian folk song, may not be a cornerstone of the Mar-a-Lago soundtrack, but it’s a mainstay of U.S.-China diplomacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The album's title, Arirang, is also the name of Korea's most beloved folk song, a sentimental anthem about moving from hardship towards something better.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026

The song “A Ram Sam Sam,” for example, is a traditional Moroccan folk song that contains many simple repeating patterns.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin