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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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 Solons name refers to an ancient Greek lawmaker, whose name later became a colloquial term for wise legislators, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026 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 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 swift fall of an empire Jim and Tammy Faye brought a casual and conversational style to their show, similar to daytime talk shows today – but with a Christian focus.
    — Ronnie Glassberg, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Apart from select Amazon Echo and Fire TV devices, the conversational AI assistant is also available via a dedicated website.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 6 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
  • Despite this informal, jam-forward approach, however, Silk Fence appear to be chasing something; an understated but steady coherence gives direction to even their most wandering moments.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that might mean designing for informal meetings as well as formal ones.
    — Brendan Castle, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • The New York Yankees face an all-too-familiar 2-0 deficit in the postseason, largely due to an all-too-familiar mind-numbing facet of the team.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The 1,800-square-foot layout was configured to work harder without sacrificing familiar sight lines.
    — Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 6 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
  • Wear them with your favorite vintage tee and sneakers or a polo tee and loafers for a casual ensemble, or slip on a sleek blouse and kitten heels for a night out with friends.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In the United States today, according to the report, nearly one in 10 streams is of music in Spanish, and in the first quarter, casual listenership of music in Spanish reached 54%, higher than it’s ever been.
    — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of casual
Noun
  • In forensic parlance, a diagnosis of exclusion is one reached by ruling out other plausible causes; drowning can be challenging to prove, because often there’s no telltale sign that one occurred.
    — Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
  • To borrow Mao’s parlance, Xi’s not ready yet for the strategic counter-offensive stage.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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