colorful

UK: ˈkʌləfəl | US: ˈkʌlərfəl

Definition

  1. adj. full of color; bright or vividly colored

  2. adj. (figuratively) lively, interesting, or imaginative

Structure
color <hue, pigment>ful <full of>
Etymology

The word "colorful" combines "color," derived from the Latin color (meaning "hue" or "shade"), with the suffix "-ful," from Old English -full (meaning "full of"). The suffix "-ful" is a productive morpheme in English, often added to nouns to form adjectives indicating abundance (e.g., "joyful," "playful"). "Colorful" emerged in the 17th century, originally describing visual vibrancy and later extending metaphorically to describe vividness in character or narrative.

Examples

  1. The artist used a colorful palette to paint the sunset.

  2. Her speech was colorful, filled with witty anecdotes.

  3. The garden looked especially colorful in spring.

  4. He wore a colorful tie to brighten his formal suit.

  5. The book’s colorful descriptions brought the story to life.