ballad

noun

bal·​lad ˈba-ləd How to pronounce ballad (audio)
Synonyms of ballad
1
a
: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing
a ballad about King Arthur
b
: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad
2
: a simple song : air
3
: a popular song
especially : a slow romantic or sentimental song
a ballad they danced to at their wedding reception
balladic
bə-ˈla-dik How to pronounce ballad (audio)
ba-
adjective

Synonyms of ballad

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Examples of ballad in a Sentence

a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That decision later earned Parton more than $10 million in royalties, according to Forbes, after Whitney Houston broke records with her enduring version of the ballad. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The former served as the famed theme to the film of the same name, in which Parton co-starred, while the latter was her take on the traditional folk ballad. — Xander Zellner, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026 Her mother, Avie Lee Parton, ran the household and was fond of singing traditional Appalachian ballads. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 Here are a few across her discography — from country songs that challenge traditional gender dynamics to the greatest ballad ever committed to record. — Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ballad

Word History

Etymology

Middle English balad, balade, ballade, balett "poem or song in stanza form, poem or stanza in rhyme royal or a similar form," borrowed from Middle French balade, going back to Old French barade, balade "song to be danced to, short poem to be sung," borrowed from Old Occitan ballada, from ballar "to dance" (going back to Late Latin ballāre) + -ada -ade — more at ball entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballad was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing ballad

Rhymes for ballad

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Browse Nearby Words

ballabile
ballad
ballade
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Cite this Entry

“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballad. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ballad

noun
bal·​lad ˈbal-əd How to pronounce ballad (audio)
1
: a poem that tells a story of adventure, of romance, or of a hero, that is suitable for singing, and that usually has stanzas of four lines with a rhyme on the second and fourth lines
2
: a simple song
3
: a usually slow or sentimental popular song

More from Merriam-Webster on ballad

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ballad

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