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

Their rare sprinkling of colorful choices throughout were even less appealing to the modern aesthete’s eye, right down to the pinkish-red bathroom. —Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026

Expect to get wet, but thankfully, guests are provided with colorful rain ponchos before their boat tour. —Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026

His 120 illustrations are colorful, sometimes combining nature photography with Walden’s original creations to form detailed settings. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026

With the holiday rotated among her siblings' homes, each year brought new hunting grounds and places for the colorful plastic eggs to be hidden. —Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 28 Mar. 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