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

Hundreds of yaks carried tents and supplies, while trekkers wearing colorful jackets took pictures with the spectacular background at Everest’s base camps. —Kaijing Xiao, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025

The star has had a colorful relationship with the town. —Chris Quintana, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

From Kimberly Quiros’ colorful creations inspired by Colombian and New York cultures to Florence Tétier’s sculptural bag chains made from upcycled materials, WWD Weekend rounds up five handmade bag charm brands to have on your radar. —Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025

Plant tulips Tulips are definitely the most colorful of all of the spring flowering bulbs. —Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Oct. 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