folklore

American  

[fohk-lawr, -lohr] / ˈfoʊkˌlɔr, -ˌloʊr /

noun

1. the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people; lore of a people.

2. the study of such lore.

3. a body of widely held but false or unsubstantiated beliefs.

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folklore British  

/ ˈfəʊkˌlɔː /

noun

1. the unwritten literature of a people as expressed in folk tales, proverbs, riddles, songs, etc

2. the body of stories and legends attached to a particular place, group, activity, etc

   Hollywood folklore

   rugby folklore

3. the anthropological discipline concerned with the study of folkloric materials

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folklore Cultural  

1. Traditional stories and legends, transmitted orally (rather than in writing) from generation to generation. The stories of Paul Bunyan are examples of American folklore.

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Other Word Forms

• folkloric adjective
• folklorist noun
• folkloristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of folklore

1846; folk + lore ¹; coined by English scholar and antiquary William John Thoms (1803–85)

Example Sentences

Chava is a newly born golem—a mythological, biddable creature originating in Jewish folklore—without a master.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other highlights of the opening day included debut director Louis Paxton's dark comedy "The Incomer," which is infused with Scottish folklore.

From Barron's

Later this year, Fairyland will debut a puppet program inspired by Native American folklore as Metz and Miller seek to continue to diversify Fairyland’s offerings.

From Los Angeles Times

The winger had a chance to write his name into Moroccan folklore after winning a penalty in the eighth minute of second-half added time with Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal goalless.

From BBC

In long, meandering speeches laced with peasant folklore, Museveni often appeals for more time, likening himself to a farmer leaving a plantation just as it starts bearing fruit.

From Barron's

Related Words

• custom
• fable
• legend
• myth
• mythology
• superstition
• tradition
• wisdom