- Today's Word
Colloquial
kuh-LOH-kwee-uhl
Definition
(adjective) Used in everyday, informal speech rather than formal language.
Example
Her writing had a colloquial tone that made complex topics easy to understand.
Fun Fact
“Colloquial” comes from Latin colloquium—literally “conversation.” It’s how we speak off the cuff, full of contractions, slang, and casual phrasing. Colloquial language brings relatability and voice, especially in dialogue and branding. What’s proper in a textbook might sound stiff in a coffee shop.
(verb) To assign someone or something to a lower position, status, or role—often as a form of dismissal or reduction in importance.
After the scandal, the senator was relegated to a minor committee post.
Late Middle English: from Latin relegare, meaning “to send away,” from re- ‘again’ + legare ‘to send’.