Meaning & use
Colbert
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproperAmerican
The family name of Stephen Colbert, an American comedian and late-night television host.
Grammar: Usually written with a capital C and used with Stephen or titles of his shows.
Patterns
- Stephen Colbert
- The Colbert Report
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert hosted The Colbert Report before moving to The Late Show.
Colbert often uses irony when discussing the news.
proper nounproperformal
The surname of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a French minister of finance under Louis XIV known for state control and economic regulation.
Grammar: A historical reference; the context must make clear which Colbert is meant.
Patterns
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert
- Colbert's economic policies
- the age of Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert expanded royal control over French trade.
Students compared Colbert's policies with later free-market ideas.
Common combinations
- The Colbert Report
- The Colbert Report made fun of political talk shows.
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- She first saw the band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
- Stephen Colbert
- Stephen Colbert interviewed the senator about the bill.
Commonly confused: Colbert or Colbert Report?
Colbert vs Colbert Report
The Colbert Report is the satirical show title; Colbert alone is the person's surname.
Practice
In a modern US entertainment context, “Colbert” most often refers to whom?
Choose one answer.
Current American media usually means Stephen Colbert, the comedian and host. Jean-Baptiste Colbert belongs to history lessons, and the other options are unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Colbert”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.