Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Colloquial

Col-lo′qui-al

,
Adj.
[See
Colloqui
.]
Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied; informal;
as,
colloquial
intercourse;
colloquial
phrases; a
colloquial
style
.
Col-lo′qui-al-ly
,
adv.
His [Johnson’s]
colloquial
talents were, indeed, of the highest order.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition


Colloquial

COLLOQUIAL

,
Adj.
[See Colloquy.] Pertaining to common conversation, or to mutual discourse; as colloquial language; a colloquial phrase.

Definition 2024


colloquial

colloquial

See also: col·loquial

English

Adjective

colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)

  1. (linguistics) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation; informal.
  2. Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

Usage notes

Note that while colloquy and colloquium refer to formal conversation, colloquial refers instead specifically to informal conversation.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

colloquial (plural colloquials)

  1. A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism