colophon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very RareFormal, Technical (Publishing, Printing, Bibliophilia)
Quick answer
What does “colophon” mean?
A statement at the end of a book, typically giving details of its publication and production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A statement at the end of a book, typically giving details of its publication and production.
Historically, a publisher's or printer's emblem or device, sometimes used on a book's title page. More broadly, any distinctive inscription or symbol identifying a printer or publisher, or in modern digital contexts, a statement about the tools or technologies used to create a website or software.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties. Spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of specialised, academic, or antiquarian knowledge in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in all contexts for both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British contexts due to the concentration of antiquarian book trade and historical bibliographic scholarship.
Grammar
How to Use “colophon” in a Sentence
The [book/manuscript] includes a colophon.A colophon identifies the [printer/publisher/date].The colophon is found on the [final page/title page].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in the business of antiquarian bookselling or high-end publishing.
Academic
Used in academic fields like bibliography, book history, publishing studies, and library science.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in printing, publishing, typography, and digital production (e.g., a website's 'colophon' page listing tech stack).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colophon”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈkəʊləfəʊn/ (like 'colon' + 'phone').
- Confusing it with 'colophony' (a type of resin).
- Assuming it is at the front of a book (like a preface).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used primarily in publishing, printing, bibliography, and book collecting. The average native speaker is unlikely to know it.
A copyright page is a modern, legal requirement containing copyright notice, ISBN, etc. A colophon is a traditional statement, often more descriptive or artistic, about the book's production (typeface, paper, printer). In modern books, the functions often merge on the copyright page.
Yes, by analogy. Some websites and software projects have a 'colophon' page describing the technologies, tools, and people involved in their creation, continuing the tradition of crediting the makers.
It comes from Latin 'colophon', from Greek 'kolophōn', meaning 'summit' or 'finishing touch'. This reflects its position as the final, crowning note in a manuscript or book.
A statement at the end of a book, typically giving details of its publication and production.
Colophon is usually formal, technical (publishing, printing, bibliophilia) in register.
Colophon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒləfən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːləfən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COLOPHON as the book's 'COLOPH-ONE' final note - the one place (at the end) that tells you who made it and how.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BOOK IS A CRAFTED OBJECT (the colophon is the maker's signature or seal).
Practice
Quiz
Where would you typically find a colophon in a traditional book?