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
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.
The first lady read Bunny with a Big Heart to a group of eager children during the event, which featured nearly 30,000 colorful eggs. Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2025 Rather than triggering colorful northern lights, this powerful explosion was more likely to have potentially devastating consequences for any nearby planet, according to new research. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025 Inside the custom millinery shops and the colorful cosmetics menagerie, a connection between the store and its loyal shoppers was born. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2025 Young architects can tinker with the four-in-one eco-friendly home ($170) from Arckit, an Irish company whose modern-minimalist designs are an ideal complement to the colorful chaos of the Legoverse. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for colorful

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorful was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colorful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorful. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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
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