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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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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 phrase originated as a colloquial term and was used as early as 2008, according to Oxford University, but rose in popularity in 2014 after New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a poster campaign targeting manspreading. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 27 May 2026 Spaar’s colloquial flippancies only reinforces her fervency. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 The women’s game’s limited coverage meant his other honours with Umea — reaching two more UEFA Cup finals and five domestic trophies — were appreciated on a more colloquial level. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 May 2026 Tabloid Journalism and Audiences Tabloid newspapers not only differ in size from broadsheet newspapers but in the way articles are written; tabloid articles are typically written in a colloquial and sensational style. — Shepherd Mpofu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 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
  • 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
  • Undaunted, the couple embarked on a renovation, working with a local builder and an architect who understood the rustic vernacular architecture associated with Glacier National Park.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Adjective
  • Consumers are moving from manual browsing, multi-tab comparisons and static forms to conversational interfaces; multimodal interactions (voice, vision and text); and autonomous agents that can execute tasks directly.
    — Pranjal Saxena, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The show transforms Fortune’s trusted reporting into actionable, conversational, and entertaining insights for an emerging class of business leaders.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 15 Sep. 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
  • That calculation can reveal a sizable amount of informal self-insurance that never received the same planning, funding or governance as other financial obligations.
    — Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Around 400 former students and leading industry professionals made the trek from Paris for a day of conferences and informal gatherings.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • That could still be possible even if White does not play at Portman Road tomorrow night, but his early substitution at the Stadium of Light felt a bit too familiar.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • If this was the case, Hodge realized, experts could continue their calculations using familiar algebraic structures instead of struggling with the triangles.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of familiar
Noun
  • Cinema is, after all, a language, and Belgian filmmakers come from a country built on the need to understand language as a bridge—between its regions, its people, and its idioms.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The multigenerational family epic is one of my favorite kinds of novels, and Min Jin Lee is a master of that idiom.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of idiom
Adjective
  • Garten sported hers buttoned up over a sleek pair of black tapered trousers while Gaines went more casual, with a distressed version and a matching pair of wide-leg jeans for a Canadian tuxedo vibe.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The casual restaurants serving simple, inexpensive meals, typically at a lunch counter, began emerging in the late 19th century.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • The Kremlin can present demonstrations of military power, even without a victory, as proof of Russian independence in international affairs—sovereignty, in Putin’s parlance.
    — MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Augusto, Marrero, Hernández and countless others have little choice but to figure things out which, in Cuban parlance, means overcoming whatever obstacle is placed in their way.
    — Juan Carlos López, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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