English · Word Candidate

colon

/ˈkəʊ.lən/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: colons · coli

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The punctuation mark ⟨:⟩.

Noun

Examples

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A rhetorical figure consisting of a clause which is grammatically, but not logically, complete.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Part of the large intestine; the final segment of the digestive system, after (distal to) the ileum and before (proximal to) the rectum. (Because the colon is the largest part of the large intestine (constituting most of it), it is often treated as synonymous therewith in broad or casual usage.)

Noun

Examples

Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A European colonial settler, especially in a French colony.

Noun

Examples

The reaction of the European colons, a mixture of shock and fear, was to demand further draconian measures and to suspend any suggestion of new reforms.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “colon” mean?

The punctuation mark ⟨:⟩.

Is “colon” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.