colloquial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Surviving Nigerian heat with no light," she wrote, using the colloquial term for electricity.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

“Hyperscalers are situationships, not spouses,” Rezaei wrote in a Tuesday note, referencing a colloquial term for romantic entanglements lacking clear boundaries and formal commitment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

“We had a colloquial term in the operating room: December Deductible Derby,” said Dr. Parcells, noting that patients seeking insurance-covered surgeries like breast augmentations have deductibles in mind.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

The acronym “GOAT” has become so common in colloquial conversation that it has practically lost all significance, appearing so frequently that the idea of greatness has been dulled into something ordinary, rather than exceptional.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

I didn’t know what to make of his gesture save its unorthodoxy, its colloquial and unprofessional tone.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee