# folklore

/ˈfoʊˌkɫɔɹ/ (US) · /fˈəʊklɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/folklore
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. traditional stories and beliefs

noun · CEFR B2

the traditional stories, customs, and beliefs of a particular group of people.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. unwritten professional knowledge

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Technical

ideas or methods that experts know and share with each other, but which are not yet written in official books.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The old man shared local folklore about the mountain.
- Researchers spent years documenting the folklore of the island to preserve its unique oral traditions before they were lost.
- While modern historians rely on written records, they often examine regional folklore to understand the social values and fears of common people in the pre-industrial era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.