colophon

C3O1L1O1P3H4O1N1
UK/ˈkɒləfən/UK/ˈkɒləˌfɒn/UK/-fən/US/ˈkɑləˌfɑn/

noun

In manuscripts (typically before the invention of printing), the note, usually at the end, left by the scribe who copied it, giving information on his exemplar, where and when the copy was made, and sometimes, his own name.

OriginLate Latin colophōn ← Ancient Greek κολοφών →
Less commonScrabble 15
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

colophon1

nouncolophon (plural colophons)

plural colophons

  1. mediaIn manuscripts (typically before the invention of printing), the note, usually at the end, left by the scribe who copied it, giving information on his exemplar, where and when the copy was made, and sometimes, his own name.
  2. An inscription found at the end of, or interspersed with the contents of, Chinese paintings or scrolls, usually left by later literati, appreciators, or collectors.
  3. mediaA printer's or publisher's identifying inscription or logo appearing at the front or end of a book, or the same appearing on the spine or dust jacket.
  4. InternetbroadlyA page on a website identifying the details of its creation, such as the author's name and the technologies used.
  5. obsoleteA finishing stroke or crowning touch.

    He comes to the creation of man, and makes him the Colophon, or conclusion of all things else.

    1635, John Swan, Speculum Mundi, page 427

Colophon2

proper noun
  1. A historical city in Ancient Greece.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
imprint

Origin

colophon · noun

  1. Ancient Greekκολοφών“peak or finishing touch”
  2. Late Latincolophōn
  3. Englishcolophon

Borrowed from Late Latin colophōn, from Ancient Greek κολοφών (kolophṓn, “peak or finishing touch”).

More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Colophon · proper noun

  1. Ancient GreekΚολοφών
  2. EnglishColophon

From Ancient Greek Κολοφών (Kolophṓn).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan Colofó
  • Colofócity
Chinese Mandarin 版权页
  • 版权页 (bǎnquányè)printer notice at the end of a book
Czech kolofon
  • kolofonprinter notice at the end of a book
Dutch colofon
  • colofonend note about author and manuscript
Esperanto kolofono
  • kolofonoend note about author and manuscript
Finnish kolofoni
  • kolofoniend note about author and manuscript
French colophon, achevé d’imprimer
  • colophonend note about author and manuscript
  • achevé d’imprimerprinter notice at the end of a book
German Kolophon, Kolophon
  • Kolophonend note about author and manuscript
  • Kolophoncity
Hungarian kolofon, impresszum
  • kolofonprinter notice at the end of a book
  • impresszumprinter notice at the end of a book
Italian colofone
  • colofoneend note about author and manuscript
Japanese 奥付, コロポン
  • 奥付 (okuzuke)end note about author and manuscript
  • コロポン (Koropon)city
Latin Colophōn
  • Colophōncity
Latvian kolofons
  • kolofonsprinter notice at the end of a book
Norwegian Bokmål kolofon, kolofon
  • kolofonend note about author and manuscript
  • kolofonprinter notice at the end of a book
Polish kolofon, kolofon
  • kolofonend note about author and manuscript
  • kolofonprinter notice at the end of a book
  • Kolofoncity
Portuguese colofão, colofão
  • colofãoend note about author and manuscript
  • colofãoprinter notice at the end of a book
  • Cólofoncity
Russian колофо́н, концо́вка
  • колофо́н (kolofón)end note about author and manuscript
  • концо́вка (koncóvka)printer notice at the end of a book
  • колофо́н (kolofón)printer notice at the end of a book
Spanish colofón, colofón
  • colofónfinishing stroke or crowning touch
  • colofónend note about author and manuscript
  • Colofóncity
Swedish kolofon
  • kolofonprinter notice at the end of a book
Turkish baskı bilgisi
  • baskı bilgisiend note about author and manuscript
Cite this entry
APA

colophon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colophon

MLA

“colophon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colophon. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “colophon,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colophon.

Source: colophon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.