Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having many or bright colors; vividly colored: Describes something that contains a variety of colors or is very bright and intense in color.
   • Full of interest, variety, or excitement; lively and unusual: Describes a person, period, or thing that is interesting, vivid, or characterized by unusual or exciting features.
   • Using rude or offensive words; vulgar: Describes language that is vivid, often in a crude, profane, or explicit way.

Usage and Examples

• Describing appearance:

  • The garden was full of colourful flowers. (The garden contained many brightly colored flowers.)
  • She wore a colourful scarf. (Her scarf had many vivid colors.)

• Describing character or events:

  • He told us a colourful story about his travels. (He told us a very interesting and vivid story.)
  • The city has a long and colourful history. (The city's history is full of interesting and exciting events.)

• Describing language:

  • The sailor's speech was rather colourful. (The sailor used a lot of rude or profane words.)

Advanced Usage

• "A colourful character": A person who is unusual, interesting, and often eccentric.
  • The old fisherman was a real colourful character, always telling wild tales.
• "Colourful language": Speech that is full of swear words, profanity, or vivid, often crude expressions.
  • The coach was known for his colourful language during games.

Variants and Related Words

• Colorful (adj): The standard American English spelling. Has the same meanings as 'colourful'.
• Colourfully (adv): In a colourful manner.
  • The market was colourfully decorated.
• Colourfulness (n): The quality of being colourful.
  • The colourfulness of the parade delighted everyone.

Synonyms

• Vibrant: Full of energy and life; bright.
• Vivid: Producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind; very bright.
• Picturesque: Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
• Flamboyant: Tending to attract attention because of confidence, exuberance, or stylishness.
• Explicit (for language): Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt; often referring to crude content.

Antonyms

• Colourless: Lacking color; dull or uninteresting.
• Drab: Lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull.
• Plain: Simple or ordinary; not decorated or elaborate.
• Subdued: Quiet and rather reflective or depressed; not bright or intense.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To lead a colourful life: To have a life full of exciting, unusual, or sometimes scandalous experiences.
  • The retired spy was said to have led a very colourful life.
• A colourful past: A history that contains interesting, exciting, or possibly disreputable events.
  • The respectable businessman had a rather colourful past.

Adjective

1. having striking color
   • colorful autumn leaves
2. striking in variety and interest
   • a colorful period of history
   • a colorful character
   • colorful language