Plural of folkway; the collection of traditional behaviors and customs that a community or culture follows in everyday life.
Plural form of 'folkway,' maintaining the same etymological roots in 'folk' and 'way.' The plural emphasizes the multiplicity of cultural norms within any society.
The concept of 'folkways' helped sociologists realize that cultures don't just have written laws—they have invisible rule systems that are often more powerful. You'll get in more trouble violating a folkway (burping at dinner, wearing pajamas to a job interview) than breaking many official rules.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.