- (functioning as plural; often plural in form)
people in general, esp those of a particular group or class: country folk - (functioning as plural; usually plural in form)
members of a family - (functioning as singular)
short for folk music a people or tribe - (modifier)
relating to, originating from, or traditional to the ordinary people of a country: a folk song
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
folk /foʊk/USA pronunciation
n.
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Usually, folks. [plural* used with a plural verb] people in general:Some folks simply won't take "no'' for an answer.
- SociologyOften, folks. [plural* used with a plural verb] people of a specified class or group:Country folk are usually friendly.
- Sociology people as the carriers of culture:[plural* used with a plural verb]The folk are the bearers of oral tradition.
- Informal Terms folks, [plural]
- members of one's family;
one's relatives:My wife's folks had a big reunion. - one's parents:My folks won't let me go to the dance.
- members of one's family;
adj. [before a noun]
- Sociologyof or coming from the common people:folk dances; folk songs;folk art.
folk
(fōk),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Usually, folks. (used with a pl. v.) people in general:Folks say there wasn't much rain last summer.
- SociologyOften, folks. (used with a pl. v.) people of a specified class or group:country folk; poor folks.
- Sociology(used with a pl. v.) people as the carriers of culture, esp. as representing the composite of social mores, customs, forms of behavior, etc., in a society:The folk are the bearers of oral tradition.
- Informal Terms folks:
- members of one's family;
one's relatives:All his folks come from France. - one's parents:Will your folks let you go?
- members of one's family;
- [Archaic.]a people or tribe.
- Informal Terms, Idioms just folks, (of persons) simple, unaffected, unsophisticated, or open-hearted people:He enjoyed visiting his grandparents because they were just folks.
adj.
- Sociologyof or originating among the common people:folk beliefs; a folk hero.
- Sociologyhaving unknown origins and reflecting the traditional forms of a society:folk culture; folk art.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English folc; cognate with Old Saxon, Old Norse folk, Old High German folk (German Volk)
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged kinfolk, kin, relations, people; clan, tribe.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'folk play' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):