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
  • General conversational assistance remains available without one, but those personal functions depend on another device.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The show’s spontaneous, conversational nature also led to a moment of disruption.
    — William E. Ketchum III, VIBE.com, 14 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
  • Filmmaker Ava DuVernay chose Milton Rogovin’s informal, untitled portrait of a beautiful young Buffalo woman from his East Side, 1961-63 collection.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Second, the agency can issue formal or informal warning letters threatening consequences if a violation is not remedied.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • Budgets have tightened and commissioners have retreated to the familiar — backing low-cost dramas and safe-bet crime formats.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The lineup also brings other familiar names in alternative music.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of familiar
Noun
  • The first Velvet Underground album, the mid-period Beatles, Kinks, and Creedence Clearwater Revival records, with enough time, seem almost like different components to the same idiom.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of idiom
Adjective
  • The casual setup and price points at Tiger’s Den swing the sushi pendulum away from ultra luxury and back toward its origins in Japan as a quick, working-class meal.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The trick is to break up the jacket-and-skirt combo and pair each with more casual pieces that take the edge off its classic finish.
    — Tatiana Ojea, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • These words often appeared in the parlance of racial grievance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory The Park Hyatt Milan is, as the contemporary parlance goes, so back.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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