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Synonyms

folkways

American  
[fohk-weyz] / ˈfoʊkˌweɪz /

plural noun

Sociology.
  1. the ways of living, thinking, and acting in a human group, built up without conscious design but serving as compelling guides of conduct.


folkways British  
/ ˈfəʊkˌweɪz /

plural noun

  1. sociol traditional and customary ways of living

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of folkways

folk + ways; term introduced in a book of the same title (1907) by W. G. Sumner

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ms. Somers is a wonderfully wry chronicler of millennial folkways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Its nine stories concern the complicated Bengali families in India and America, and Lahiri’s elegant, observant prose is constantly alert to the ways that lore and folkways shape or abrade relationships.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

“His witty, wistful songs celebrate a uniquely American cast of characters and seaside folkways, weaving together an unforgettable musical mix of country, folk, rock, pop, and calypso into something uniquely his own.”

From Washington Times • Sep. 2, 2023

“What they come to learn is that they are not only adopting a child but a set of traditions, folkways, a history, and they feel responsible in helping children understand that history and heritage.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 12, 2022

It offers no nifty formulas for pigeonholing people or decoding folkways and manners.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times