folkloric

folkloric — adjective

1. connected with the traditional stories, customs, and beliefs that are passed fro

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

connected with the traditional stories, customs, and beliefs that are passed from older to younger people within a community, often by word of mouth

Example

Sivan collected folkloric tales from villages across the mountain region.

folkloric + noun: folkloric tales

The museum's folkloric section displays traditional costumes and musical instruments from the 1800s.

folkloric + noun: folkloric section

Common collocations
  • folkloric tales
  • folkloric traditions
  • folkloric beliefs
  • folkloric dance
  • folkloric music
  • folkloric motifs
  • folkloric elements
Synonyms
  • folk

    shorter and more common in everyday speech; 'folkloric' is more academic and less frequent

  • traditional

    broader meaning that covers any custom, not specifically folklore; 'folkloric' is tied to oral tradition and folk beliefs

  • mythical

    focuses on myths and legendary figures; 'folkloric' includes all forms of folk tradition including tales, music, and customs

Antonyms
  • modern

    folkloric refers to inherited traditions; modern refers to current or recent practices

  • factual

    folkloric stories are traditional and legendary, not necessarily based on verifiable facts

Grammar Patterns

folkloric + noun

Usage Note

Usually placed before a noun. More formal and academic in tone than the simpler adjective 'folk' (e.g., 'folk music' vs. 'folkloric traditions').

Common Mistakes

She studies folkloric as part of her degree.
She studies folklore as part of her degree.
'folkloric' is an adjective; the noun form 'folklore' is needed when naming the field of study.

Word family

  • folklore
    nounB2
  • folklorist
    nounC1
  • folkloristic
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Folk, traditional, and mythical all overlap with folkloric, but each has a different range. Folk is the most general and common word — you can say 'folk music' or 'folk art' without sounding academic, but 'folkloric music' would sound unusually formal. Traditional is wider still, covering any inherited practice from holiday meals to building styles, whether or not it involves storytelling or popular belief. Mythical narrows the focus to myths — stories about gods, heroes, and origins — whereas folkloric includes all types of folk tradition: tales, songs, dances, superstitions, and seasonal customs. For example, a 'mythical creature' might be a dragon from an origin story, while a 'folkloric creature' could be a household spirit from a local legend passed down by word of mouth.

folk ↗traditional ↗mythical

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

English

Formed from the noun 'folklore' (a combination of 'folk' meaning 'people' and 'lore' meaning 'knowledge or teaching') plus the adjective suffix '-ic'. The word 'folklore' was coined in 1846 by the English writer William Thoms to describe the traditional beliefs and stories of ordinary people. 'Folkloric' appeared a few decades later as the adjective form.