colloquial 1 of 2

adjective

kə-ˈlō-kwē-əl How to pronounce colloquial (audio)
Definition of colloquialnext
1
as in vernacular
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conversational
having the style and content of everyday conversation a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

colloquial

2 of 2

noun

as in colloquialism

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of colloquial
Adjective
The colloquial names are fun, but can be confusing, because there’s also a plant called brown-eyed Susan, which is different from the black-eyed Susan. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Silent sleep apnea is a colloquial term for the form of the condition that occurs without the loud, disruptive snoring most people associate with it. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 Wilson’s translation has come under fire for her decision to render Homeric Greek into a direct, colloquial English. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 Its name refers to the colloquial term once used for Papaya—paw-paw. — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
  1. vernacular
  2. conversational
  3. colloquialism
  4. informal
  5. familiar
  6. idiom
  7. casual
  8. parlance
Adjective
  • For me, a poster, in a Native context, is something that communicates a message through typography, visual language or vernacular language, and is intended to be publicly shown or expressed.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Adjective
  • Google describes this CarPlay support update as a conversational way to report traffic disruptions and find information about stops and places on-the-go.
    — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Many buyers consider generative AI or conversational search as a more important information source than any other source.
    — John McCartney, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of conversational
Noun
  • Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.
    — Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of colloquialism
Adjective
  • In an office, the two of them would likely have crossed paths, enabling an informal mentoring relationship.
    — Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Around a third of young Africans are employed in informal roles in the agricultural sector.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • Keep your eye on what gives you more freedom, not just what feels familiar.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Because the team that won the 2026 NBA championship weathered a storm that feels all-too familiar in a 0-3 start to their reign as NBA champions this season.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of familiar
Noun
  • Over the decades, though, Reich’s idiom has become part of the mainstream.
    — Joshua Barone, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The first Velvet Underground album, the mid-period Beatles, Kinks, and Creedence Clearwater Revival records, with enough time, seem almost like different components to the same idiom.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of idiom
Adjective
  • New visa rules for Australia and Japan Australia has long been popular with backpackers and young people looking to see the world and pick up casual work.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe plan on spending more than $20 for a casual lunch in the year 2026.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • For four years, common parlance had called it the White House of the Confederacy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory The Park Hyatt Milan is, as the contemporary parlance goes, so back.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of parlance

Browse Nearby Words

collops
colloquial
colloquialism
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All