colossal
Americanadjective
-
extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic; huge.
-
of or resembling a colossus.
-
(initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a classical order whose columns or pilasters span two or more stories of a building.
adjective
-
of immense size; huge; gigantic
-
(in figure sculpture) approximately twice life-size Compare heroic
-
Also: giant. architect of or relating to the order of columns and pilasters that extend more than one storey in a façade
Usage
What does colossal mean? Colossal describes something as being very large in size, degree, or amount, as in I went to a colossal shopping mall that stretched for a mile. If something is colossal, it is enormous, gigantic, or massive. Colossal can also be used to describe a large degree of something, that is, a large amount or a large extent, like a colossal amount of boxes or a colossal advantage in the playoffs. Less commonly, colossal describes something as resembling a colossus, which is a very large statue, as in The large man was so colossal that he blocked the entire doorway. Example: Tyrannosaurus rex was a colossal dinosaur that towered over many of the smaller animals.
Synonym Usage
See gigantic.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of colossal
First recorded in 1705–15; coloss(us) + -al 1
Explanation
Colossal describes something so large it makes you say, "Whoa!" You might have a colossal amount of homework, or see a colossal pyramid while vacationing in Egypt. Colossal can refer to an item's physical size, like a giant redwood tree, but it can also be used to describe the force or scope of something — like the colossal force of a thunderstorm that knocked down the redwood tree, or the colossal scope of your school project on the history of the redwoods that seems like it will never, ever end. It comes from the Greek word kolossos, meaning "gigantic statue."
Vocabulary lists containing colossal
List 6
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Brace Yourself: Earthquake Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nolan’s crew watched anxiously as the surf tore pieces off their colossal prop of fiberglass, wood and steel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
The product is mainly aimed at single people and those aged over 60 -- a "colossal market" in China of around 120 and 320 million respectively, according to Tam.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Despite competing against industry heavyweights with thousands more locations and colossal marketing budgets, regional chain executives said that higher quality and more loyal clientele have kept traffic strong without heavy discounting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
But there is a colossal decision to be made that will play a huge part in keeping that party in full swing.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
He looked, in fact, very much like a colossal bowl of jelly, without the bowl.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
