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 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
  • The future of production belongs to the concept of the conversational director.
    — Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This problem may be an issue of the relatives being overeager or proud or not having conversational skills that align well with yours.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 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
  • On paper, the January agreement between Damascus and the SDF provides a framework for resolving informal wartime boundaries and closed routes and for harmonizing competing duties and parallel systems of governance.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The minimum monthly salary for a state worker in Cuba is 3,210 pesos, currently less than $5 in the informal dollar exchange market.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • The point is to make the brand’s Parisian identity travel throughout its 56 markets without turning it into a collection of familiar cues and clichés.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the campaign video, Kelce arrives at New York’s iconic The Plaza Hotel and greets a few familiar A-list faces before heading to his room to relax with an adorable, fluffy white dog.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of familiar
Noun
  • In the more compressed idiom of three-act-movie storytelling, this chapter would represent the end of act two, when all hope appears lost.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • There are plenty of idioms to describe Andrean outside hitter Aleece Ehler’s freshman season.
    — Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiom
Adjective
  • The Clubhouse Restaurant provides a more casual option, serving familiar comfort food alongside some of the most spectacular views in Europe.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Keep it casual and stylish by pairing your maxi skirt and white tee with your comfy walking shoes for daytime sightseeing without totally sticking out like a tourist.
    — Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • In response, the town shifted its marketing to late-night booze-ups and wedding parties (known, in British parlance, as stag dos and hen dos), and subsequently grew a reputation as a sandcastle Sodom.
    — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In OpenAI's current parlance, a plugin is a bundle of apps, instructions, role-specific skills, and recurring workflows rather than an external application or a folder of sample prompts.
    — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of parlance

Browse Nearby Words

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 5 Sep. 2026.

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