colorful

adjective

col·​or·​ful ˈkə-lər-fəl How to pronounce colorful (audio)
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 adverb
colorfulness noun

Examples of colorful in a Sentence

I wore a colorful outfit. He gave a colorful account of his travels.
Recent Examples on the Web Otherwise, the three printers provide the same glossy, colorful prints using photochemical film. PCMAG, 14 Aug. 2024 In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Aug. 13, Vanessa shared several images of the family decked out in leis and colorful clothing. Emma Aerin Becker, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2024 The colorful northern lights lit up across the state Sunday night and could be back Monday night. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2024 Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the northern hemisphere. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for colorful 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'colorful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorful was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near colorful

Cite this Entry

“Colorful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorful. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

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 adverb
colorfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on colorful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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