folk 1 of 2

noun

ˈfōk How to pronounce folk (audio)
Definition of folknext
1
as in family
folks plural a group of persons who come from the same ancestor her folks have farmed that land for five generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in class
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in people
folks plural human beings in general c'mon, folks, let's get to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

folk

2 of 2

adjective

as in tribal

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of folk
Noun
Despite the increasing commercialization of the week, basic entry is still free, although folks must register for a fan access pass beforehand. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The first 15,000 folks through the gates on Saturday get a camo Chipper Jones T-shirt jersey. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
This year, the event will feature more folk dancing groups, Plevrakis said, and guests can enjoy a DJ on Friday and Sunday, plus a live band on Saturday. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, 13 June 2019 After Carly and Martina, indie band Half-Alive and folk musician Liza Anne finished off the series for the day. — Elena Weissmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2018 See All Example Sentences for folk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folk
  1. family
  2. class
  3. people
  4. tribal
  5. clan
  6. caste
  7. humanity
  8. ethnic
Noun
  • In our efforts to reciprocate with some updates about our family, the wife would interject within a sentence or two of our contribution to hijack the conversation back to talking about her family.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The role of companies Singapore’s new scheme shifts from merely encouraging births to focus on family well-being over the long term, which might help change how potential parents think about children.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • Figuratively speaking, by this point, this class has been bloodied in battle and have gotten to know each other.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Because that 2022 draft class is out the door — nine of its 10 members, anyway.
    — Sam McDowell August 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of class
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people
Adjective
  • Language requiring state agencies to secure tribal consent before building projects that might affect Indigenous spiritual practices and the ability of tribes and individual members to sue if those rights are violated.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Such groups may include perennial nomads (such as the Roma in Europe), Indigenous peoples in former European colonies, or smaller tribes in societies where tribal membership is socially significant.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribal
Noun
  • For the exterior, the clan enlisted the same architect and builder the wife’s sister had used on a prior house.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The O’Connell clan’s reach extended far beyond a little bribery and ballot stuffing.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of clan
Noun
  • Ahmed is heartened by the pushback against Hindu nationalism in recent years from progressive Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits, members of the former untouchable caste in India who have historically faced discrimination.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Written nearly a century ago, the statement remains strikingly relevant, particularly in conversations about economic inequality, privilege, caste, education, and poverty.
    — Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of caste
Noun
  • Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history – as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth – will remain with me always.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history, as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth, will remain with me always.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of humanity
Adjective
  • Some users have reported inaccuracies, and some experts have expressed caution about the reliability of facial age estimation tools, especially for women or certain racial or ethnic groups.
    — Barbara Ortutay, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For Balthaser, these developments bore out some of the Jewish left’s warnings about Zionism as a project of nationalism, imperialism, and ethnic exclusion.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ethnic

Browse Nearby Words

folios
folk
folklife
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Cite this Entry

“Folk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folk. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folk

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