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.

---

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

---

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

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

At home, some fans are debating how Korean the new album Arirang really is - despite being named after a beloved folk song, which is sampled in the hip-hop laden opener, Body to Body.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

“Arirang” is the title of an ancient Korean folk song that is believed to be at least 600 years old and is still sung to this day.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026

Beginning with "Body to Body" and ending with "Into the Sun", the 14-track "ARIRANG" album takes its name from a folk song about longing and separation that is often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.

From Barron's ● Mar. 20, 2026

It played “The River Shannon” and New York’s own folk song, “The Sidewalks of New York.”

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---