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

• 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

While colorful, with a 3-D style of animation not often seen on American TV these days, Resistance suffered from being intended for a younger audience. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025

This context and backdrop adorns the film with considerable energy, various colorful personalities and smartly edited archival news footage that deepens our understanding of the perilous stakes. —Tomris Laffly, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025

Lake Atitlán's towns are mostly boat-access-only, linked by lanchas—colorful public boats running every 20 minutes or so. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025

Guest room configurations include multi-bedroom units with full kitchens and washer-dryers; the decor features a colorful blend of Mexican handicrafts. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025

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