colourful
Colourful (adjective) means British spelling of colorful. Example: “The garden was full of colourful tulips in spring.”
adjective
1
British spelling of colorful.
"Hussain celebrated reaching his ton with a gesture towards the media centre, pointing to the number three on the back of his shirt and offering some colourful language."
— , Did Hussain go too far? (2002)
"And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes"
— Owen Phillips, Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark (2012)
"The garden was full of colourful tulips in spring."
How to use colourful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBritish spelling of "colorful."
UK vs US
British/Commonwealth spelling; American English uses "colorful."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more colourful
- Superlative
- most colourful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The garden was full of _____ tulips in spring.
Etymology
From colour plus -ful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “colourful” mean?
The word “colourful” means british spelling of colorful. In plain terms, british spelling of "colorful.".
How do you use “colourful” in a sentence?
Here is “colourful” used in a sentence: “The garden was full of colourful tulips in spring.”
What part of speech is “colourful”?
“Colourful” is an adjective.
Is “colourful” a common word?
“Colourful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'colourful' and 'colorful'?
'Colourful' is the British English spelling and 'colorful' is the American English spelling of the same word, with identical meaning. Which one to use depends on whether you are writing in British or American English style.
When should you use 'colourful' instead of 'colorful'?
Use 'colourful' when writing for a British, Irish, Australian, or other Commonwealth English audience or publication, since these varieties of English follow British spelling conventions. Use 'colorful' for American English audiences.
Can 'colourful' be used figuratively, not just to describe color?
Yes, 'colourful' is often used figuratively to describe something lively, varied, or full of interesting detail, such as a 'colourful character' or a 'colourful history,' extending beyond its literal meaning of full of color.
