Word
folklore
Phoneticsfolk·lore, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfoʊˌkɫɔɹ/
UK/fˈəʊklɔː/
Definitions
01traditional stories and beliefs
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the traditional stories, customs, and beliefs of a particular group of people.
n. the traditional beliefs, legends, and customs of a specific ethnic or social group, typically transmitted through oral tradition.
“In local folklore, the mountains are said to be protected by a giant spirit.”
“The professor spent decades documenting the folklore of the island, focusing on how ancient seafaring myths influenced modern social rituals.”
02unwritten professional knowledge
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Mathematics Slang · Technical
n. ideas or methods that experts know and share with each other, but which are not yet written in official books.
n. the body of proofs, techniques, or observations widely known within a professional community but not formally published.
“That specific way to solve the equation is part of mathematical folklore.”
“While the result is widely accepted as part of the field's folklore, a rigorous formal proof has yet to appear in any peer-reviewed journal.”
Usage
Often used with 'mathematical' or 'scientific' to describe shared but unrecorded insights.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In Indonesian folklore, durian also often appears in proverbs and riddles.” “With histories stretching back so far, it can be difficult to separate fact from folklore.” Etymology
From folk + lore, coined by British writer William Thoms in 1846 to replace terms such as "popular antiquities". Thoms imitated German terms such as Volklehre (“people's customs”) and Volksüberlieferung (“popular tradition”). Compare also Old English folclar (“popular instruction; homily”) and West Frisian folkloare (“folklore”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/folklore