colorful

adjective

col·​or·​ful ˈkə-lər-fəl How to pronounce colorful (audio)
Synonyms of colorfulnext
1
: having striking colors
colorful scenery
2
a
: full of variety or interest
a colorful description
b
of speech : rude, offensive
… he had begun to gamble and use colorful language …—Yohannes Edemariam
colorfully
ˈkə-lər-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce colorful (audio)
adverb
colorfulness
ˈkə-lər-fəl-nəs How to pronounce colorful (audio)
noun

Synonyms of colorful

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Examples of colorful in a Sentence

I wore a colorful outfit. He gave a colorful account of his travels.
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.
The point is that on Super Bowl Sunday, the NFL is paying Jay-Z to bring his colorful songs and lyrics to his largest audience ever. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Halloween night game for the rivalry There will be some colorful scenes in Fayetteville for the primetime game. — Pj Green october 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026 Originally designed in the early 19th century for the Prince Regent, 121 Regent Street has a colorful past, having served as an art gallery, cinema and theater. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 Soon afterward, Dzubas began making paintings that looked almost nothing like the colorful abstractions associated with his name. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colorful

Word History

Etymology

color entry 1 + -ful entry 1

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorful was in 1848

Phrases Containing colorful

Browse Nearby Words

color force
colorful
colorful character
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colorful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorful. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

colorful

adjective
col·​or·​ful ˈkəl-ər-fəl How to pronounce colorful (audio)
1
: having noticeable colors
2
: full of variety or interest
a colorful personality
colorfully
-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce colorful (audio)
adverb
colorfulness
-fəl-nəs How to pronounce colorful (audio)
noun
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