adjective characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
involving or using conversation.
Origin of colloquial First recorded in
1745–55; colloquy +
-al1 Related forms col·lo·qui·al·ly , adverb col·lo·qui·al·ness , col·lo·qui·al·i·ty , noun qua·si-col·lo·qui·al , adjective qua·si-col·lo·qui·al·ly , adverb sem·i·col·lo·qui·al , adjective sem·i·col·lo·qui·al·ly , adverb un·col·lo·qui·al , adjective un·col·lo·qui·al·ly , adverb Synonym study 1, 2 . Colloquial, conversational, informal refer to types of speech or to usages not on a formal level. Colloquial is often mistakenly used with a connotation of disapproval, as if it meant “vulgar” or “bad” or “incorrect” usage, whereas it is merely a familiar style used in speaking and writing. Conversational refers to a style used in the oral exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.: an easy conversational style. Informal means without formality, without strict attention to set forms, unceremonious: an informal manner of speaking; it describes the ordinary, everyday language of cultivated speakers.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for colloquial conversational ,
vernacular ,
chatty ,
common ,
dialectal ,
everyday ,
idiomatic ,
popular ,
street ,
demotic ,
jive Examples from the Web for colloquial Contemporary Examples of colloquial A hypothetical history of how words become part of the colloquial lexicon.
There are no naked bodies (at least in the colloquial sense).
The lanky, scandal-scarred former Congressman and purveyor of the now colloquial sext, has lived and died by the tweet.
In Austria, schnaps is a colloquial term that historically references distilled fruit brandy.
To use an US Army colloquial term, he is a "No Go" for the cabinet post.
Historical Examples of colloquial Colloquial exaggerated turn of phrase; almost "you could wipe them off the earth."
He was as familiar with colloquial English as he was with his own tongue.
Perrin was nettled, for he prided himself on his colloquial style.
In this way he acquired a colloquial knowledge of that language.
Mrs. Quabarl, to use a colloquial expression, was knocked off her perch.
British Dictionary definitions for colloquial adjective of or relating to conversation
denoting or characterized by informal or conversational idiom or vocabulary Compare informal Show More
Derived Forms colloquially , adverb colloquialness , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for colloquial adj. 1751, from colloquy "a conversation" + -al (1). Related: Colloquially .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
