colorful

adjective

col·​or·​ful ˈkə-lər-fəl 

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 

adverb

colorfulness

ˈkə-lər-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of colorful

• colored
• varied
• rainbow
• vibrant
• various

Examples of colorful in a Sentence

I wore a colorful outfit.

He gave a colorful account of his travels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sienkiewicz got his start in comics back in the late 1970s, but today his colorful and recognizable style has expanded into illustration, animation, film and TV, book and album covers, advertising and fine art. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

The supporting figures are colorful enough, though Akkabi’s sneering chief villain arguably makes less of an impression than his subordinates. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026

Perhaps the most colorful was 20th-year Winter Park coach Tim Shifflet. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026

Appellation Lodi Julie Scopazzi, former marketing manager at Testarossa in Los Gatos, had been telling me about the beautiful transformation of Appellation Lodi, with its gorgeous territorial architecture and colorful gardens. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 26 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

color entry 1 + -ful entry 1

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing colorful

• colorful character

Kids Definition

colorful

adjective

col·​or·​ful ˈkəl-ər-fəl 

1

: having noticeable colors

2

: full of variety or interest

a colorful personality

colorfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

colorfulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun