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Definition of colloquial

colloquial

/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/
col · lo · qui · al
Adverb:colloquially
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colloquial Lexical Profile

colloquial Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Used in or characteristic of ordinary, familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing.

Example

"The author deliberately used colloquial expressions in the dialogue to make the characters sound authentic."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for colloquial

Word Nuance & Usage

While often confused with 'slang,' 'colloquial' refers broadly to everyday conversational language used by educated speakers in informal settings, whereas slang is typically restricted to specific social groups and tends to be more ephemeral.

• Rhymes for colloquial

• Nearby Words

collin
collins
collision
colloquial
colloquialism
colloquially
collude

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-18th century from Latin colloquium ('conversation'), derived from col- ('together') and loqui ('to speak').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Colloquial. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/colloquial
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