folk dance

noun

1. a dance that originated among, and has been transmitted through, the common people. Compare court dance.
2. a piece of music for such a dance.

folk dance

noun

1. any of various traditional rustic dances often originating from festivals or rituals
2. a piece of music composed for such a dance

verb

1. to perform a folk dance

Derived Forms

• folk dancing, noun

Other Words From

• folk dancer noun
• folk dancing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of folk dance¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Her own father, a truck driver, was gone for days or weeks at a time, while her mother taught clogging, a form of folk dance.

From ProPublica

I have promised to lead a folk dance conference on the weekend.

From Project Gutenberg

Occasionally one had an impression that it had once been a folk dance of vigour and significance.

From Project Gutenberg

It's a Russian folk-dance my mother taught me the first year we were in this country.

From Project Gutenberg

We'll introduce a folk dance and a few folk songs if necessary.

From Project Gutenberg

They were dressed in many-coloured garments and danced a folk dance.

From Project Gutenberg