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

The peas lift the dish out of bland mode and into something colorful and fresh. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Apr. 2026

So, for their Naples apartment, the two young medics wanted to craft an ode to colorful living. —Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2026

This year, sheep also had to forage for their food pellets inside a colorful sphere with holes in it. —ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026

One exception was a colorful painting installed along both sides of the sanctuary, high above the heads of visitors, to represent the men and women who once crowded into the balcony to observe the proceedings and express their views. —Beverly Gage, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 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