Words / B2

k-uh-LOSL/kəˈlɒsl/

Colossal means extremely large: a colossal deficit; colossal damage. Huge and vast are close (vast already in the dictionary); big is weaker. A colossal deficit still needs the £ figure. Mix-up: collosal (misspelling); coalition. Do not write colossal for a small rounding error.

Meaning

Extremely large.

Examples

• “A colossal deficit still needs the £ figure, the accounts extract said.”
• “A colossal statue featured in the archaeology source, which is the physical-size sense.”

Good to know

a colossal + noun; colossally. Close: huge / vast. Trap: collosal spelling. News, history, and evaluations. Huge, not merely “quite big”.

Near in meaning

huge

New