folk music

American  

noun

1. music, usually of simple character and anonymous authorship, handed down among the common people by oral tradition.

2. music by known composers that has become part of the folk tradition of a country or region.

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folk music British  

noun

1. music that is passed on from generation to generation by oral tradition Compare art music

2. any music composed in the idiom of this oral tradition

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folk music Cultural  

1. A kind of music originating from the ordinary people of a region or nation and continued by oral tradition. The ballad (see also ballad) is a typical form of folk music. Music is also called “folk” when it is made by artists and composers who are inspired by, or imitate, true folk music. Composers such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie are folk musicians of the second kind.

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Etymology

Origin of folk music

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Four times during the course of a nearly three-hour set of 27 songs — that included gospel, rock and Woody Guthrie-inspired American folk music — Springsteen stopped the show and spoke directly to the audience.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

If hip-hop is the folk music of the post-industrial age, then Slick Rick is it's Woody Guthrie.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Born in Glasgow into a singing family, he released a number of albums over the years and was among the earliest steel-string players in British folk music.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2025

The race is now the highlight of the autumn, attracting up to 5,000 spectators to Flumserberg, spending the rest of the day listening to schlager folk music and sampling the Alpine produce.

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

Since ancient times, folk music has been the music of ordinary people, not the ruling class or professional musicians.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• country music