colloquial 1 of 2

adjective

kə-ˈlō-kwē-əl How to pronounce colloquial (audio)
Definition of colloquialnext
1
as in vernacular
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conversational
having the style and content of everyday conversation a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

colloquial

2 of 2

noun

as in colloquialism

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of colloquial
Adjective
The colloquial names are fun, but can be confusing, because there’s also a plant called brown-eyed Susan, which is different from the black-eyed Susan. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Silent sleep apnea is a colloquial term for the form of the condition that occurs without the loud, disruptive snoring most people associate with it. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 Wilson’s translation has come under fire for her decision to render Homeric Greek into a direct, colloquial English. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 Its name refers to the colloquial term once used for Papaya—paw-paw. — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
  1. vernacular
  2. conversational
  3. colloquialism
  4. informal
  5. familiar
  6. idiom
  7. casual
  8. parlance
Adjective
  • For me, a poster, in a Native context, is something that communicates a message through typography, visual language or vernacular language, and is intended to be publicly shown or expressed.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Adjective
  • There’s a lot of clever obfuscation in this episode’s conversational dances, but sometimes the characters really skewer each other.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The students’ attorneys argue that the messages must be evaluated in their original conversational context and that each participant should be held responsible only for his own statements and conduct.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of conversational
Noun
  • Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.
    — Claire McNear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of colloquialism
Adjective
  • In an office, the two of them would likely have crossed paths, enabling an informal mentoring relationship.
    — Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Around a third of young Africans are employed in informal roles in the agricultural sector.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • Keep your eye on what gives you more freedom, not just what feels familiar.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Because the team that won the 2026 NBA championship weathered a storm that feels all-too familiar in a 0-3 start to their reign as NBA champions this season.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of familiar
Noun
  • Its palette is broad, moving from comic to straight rap, from Cab Calloway swing to Beyoncé-style ballads, each idiom chosen for its dramatic purpose.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Over the decades, though, Reich’s idiom has become part of the mainstream.
    — Joshua Barone, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of idiom
Adjective
  • New visa rules for Australia and Japan Australia has long been popular with backpackers and young people looking to see the world and pick up casual work.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe plan on spending more than $20 for a casual lunch in the year 2026.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • The last attack—or troll, to use modern parlance—has proven to be particularly popular on the car internet due to the price discrepancy between the two EVs.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026
  • No anything from any words that have not been used in popular parlance since the 1940s.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of parlance

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collops
colloquial
colloquialism
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Cite this Entry

“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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