Definition of 'colourful'

Word Frequency

colourful

(kʌləʳfʊl )

regional note: in AM, use colorful

1. adjective

Something that is colourful has bright colours or a lot of different colours.

The flowers were colourful and the scenery magnificent.

People wore colourful clothes and seemed to be having a good time.

colourfully adverb

...the sight of dozens of colourfully-dressed people.

2. adjective

A colourful story is full of exciting details.

The story she told was certainly colourful, and extended over her life in England, Germany and Spain.

...the country's colourful and often violent history.

3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

A colourful character is a person who behaves in an interesting and amusing way.

A colourful character, he likes extravagant gestures.

4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

If someone has had a colourful past or a colourful career, they have been involved in exciting but often slightly shocking things.

More details surfaced of her colourful past as the story developed.

...a well-known City business man with a rather colourful background.

5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

Colourful language is rude or offensive language.

[politeness]

Bryant is alleged to have used colourful language.

More Synonyms of colourful

Video: pronunciation of 'colourful'

Word Frequency

colourful in British

or US colorful (ˈkʌləfʊl )

adjective

having intense colour or richly varied colours

vivid, rich, or distinctive in character

Derived forms

colourfully (ˈcolourfully) or US colorfully (ˈcolorfully)

adverb

colourfulness (ˈcolourfulness) or US colorfulness (ˈcolorfulness)

noun

Example sentences containing 'colourful'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Mind you, he did say it in slightly more colourful language! The Sun (2016)International referees can often become as colourful and controversial as the men they are charged with policing. Times, Sunday Times (2011)His language was colourful and perhaps that was why so many of the players loved it. Times, Sunday Times (2010)You could meet your new love where colourful clothes are sold. The Sun (2008)How does your husband feel about your colourful past? Times, Sunday Times (2006)Yet its ports are picturesque and its history rich and colourful. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Her language is as colourful as her barnet. The Sun (2011)The smoking jacket has a colourful history. Times, Sunday Times (2014)It also has a colourful and troubled history. Times, Sunday Times (2011)The third thing to note is that the building in which the gallery is housed has a colourful past. Times, Sunday Times (2015)He really is a colourful character. The Sun (2009)Few trainers have a more colourful background than Brown. The Sun (2012)BBC1 Glam rock is regarded as one of the most exciting and colourful periods in pop. The Sun (2006)The colourful, often controversial lives of world champions have featured on the big screen. The Sun (2010)In a book brimming with colourful and curious characters, two names stand out. The Times Literary Supplement (2012)His stance was uncompromising and his language colourful, but he was not saying anything new. Jane Dunn ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens (2003)He has a very colourful background and claims to have slept with more than 1,000 men and women. The Sun (2013)I yearn for colourful clothes with a modern twist on classic. Times, Sunday Times (2013)I would love to be more colourful with my clothes and this situation is getting me down. The Sun (2007)He used quite colourful language. The Sun (2015)Its colourful past has given it layer upon layer of history, but these days the city is very much a modern metropolis. Times, Sunday Times (2015)There's no doubt he was one of the most colourful and exciting fighters of his era with an amazing capacity to absorb tremendous punishment. The Sun (2010)Indeed, an array of colourful characters have sought to acquire English football clubs. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Three individual characters as colourful and loud as each other, they say the fact their styles and personalities are so different has enabled them to become friends. The Sun (2012)A large, often colourful sail that is raised at the front of a yacht to increase speed during races when the wind is not particularly strong. Times, Sunday Times (2012)