folk
folk Lexical Profile
folk Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Originating from the beliefs, customs, and artistic traditions of ordinary people in a community, passed down through generations.
"The museum features an extensive collection of regional folk art, including hand-carved wooden figures and woven textiles."
• noun
People in general, or a specific group of people sharing a common characteristic or way of life.
"Many country folk prefer the quiet pace of rural life over the bustle of the city."
A genre of music originating in traditional popular culture or composed in a similar acoustic style, often featuring storytelling lyrics.
"She began her career playing acoustic folk in small neighborhood coffeehouses."
One's parents or close family members (always used in the plural form 'folks').
"I am planning to visit my folks in the countryside over the holiday weekend."
A distinct nation, tribe, or ethnic group sharing a common heritage, language, and customs.
"Anthropologists documented the oral histories of the ancient nomadic folk who once inhabited the steppe."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to people in general, the unmarked plural 'folk' and the s-plural 'folks' are both common, though 'folks' is exclusively used when referring to one's parents or close relatives.
• Rhymes for folk
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English folc, meaning 'common people, multitude, or tribe', from Proto-Germanic *fulka-, which is cognate with German Volk ('people, nation').