Folks — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective phrase /ˈfōk/ (noun) /ˈjəs(t)-ˈfōks/ (adjective)

Meaning & Definition of Folks

Folks (noun)

  1. people generally
  2. a certain kind, class, or group of people
  3. the persons of one's own family; especially, parents

Folks (adjective)

  1. marked by the absence of formality or sophistication, unpretentious

Folks (phrase)

  1. ordinary people

Folks (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group of persons who come from the same ancestor

    "her folks have farmed that land for five generations"

    similar: blood, clan, family, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe
    related: blended family, nuclear family, extended family, household, kith, brood, descendant, issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed, clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative, dynasty
    near: ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

  2. human beings in general

    "c'mon, folks, let's get to work"

    similar: humanity, humankind, people, public, species, world
    related: community, society, crowd, masses, mob, populace, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, riffraff

Related Entry: Folk (noun)

Folk is a different word from Folks. The synonyms below are for folk, not for folks.

  1. a group of persons who come from the same ancestor

    "her folks have farmed that land for five generations"

    similar: blood, clan, family, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race (archaic), stock, tribe
    related: blended family, nuclear family, extended family, household, kith, brood, descendant, issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed, clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative, dynasty
    near: ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

  2. one of the segments of society into which people are grouped

    "the working-class folk with no airs or pretentions"

    similar: caste, class, estate, gentry, order, stratum
    related: bracket, echelon, grade, layer, level, tier, place, position, rank, standing, status, food chain, grouping, hierarchy, stratification, clan, family, fraternity, people, race, tribe, subcaste

  3. human beings in general

    "c'mon, folks, let's get to work"

    similar: humanity, humankind, people, public, species, world
    related: community, society, crowd, masses, mob, populace, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, riffraff

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Folks

The most common words with a similar meaning to Folks:

blood, clan, family, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe, humanity, humankind, public, species, world

Related Words for Folks

blended family, nuclear family, extended family, household, kith, brood, descendant, issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed, clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative, dynasty, community, society, crowd, masses, mob, populace, proletariat, rabble, rabblement, riffraff

Near Antonyms of Folks

ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

Word Forms of Folks

Inflections: folk

Origin & Etymology of Folks

Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Folks

just-folks, just plain folks

Frequently Asked Questions about Folks

What does "Folks" mean?

"Folks" means people generally. As an a noun, an adjective and a phrase, it is defined as: people generally. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Folks"?

Other words for "Folks" include blood, clan, family, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk and kinsfolk. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Folks" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Folks"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Folks". Common alternatives include blood, clan, family, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk, kinsfolk, line and lineage.

How do you use "Folks" in a sentence?

Examples of "Folks" in a sentence: "her folks have farmed that land for five generations"; "c'mon, folks, let's get to work".

Is "Folks" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Folks" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Folks"?

"Folks" is pronounced /ˈfōk/ as a noun and /ˈjəs(t)-ˈfōks/ as an adjective.

What is the origin of the word "Folks"?

"Folks" comes from Middle English, from Old English folc; akin to Old High German folc people. First known use: before 12th century.

What is another word for "Folks" meaning "a group of persons who come from the same ancestor"?

When "Folks" (noun) means a group of persons who come from the same ancestor, synonyms include blood, clan, family, house, kin and kindred.