ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vivid

adj. · n.
US //ˈvɪvəd// UK //vˈɪvɪd// vivid
  1. 1 bright and intense (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    very bright and strong in colour.

    producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind through intense colour or light.

    Example

    The artist used vivid reds and oranges to paint the sunset.

    Example

    The tropical birds displayed such vivid plumage that they remained visible even against the dense, dark green of the rainforest canopy.
  2. 2 clear and detailed (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    producing very clear and detailed images in your mind.

    evoking lifelike images or strong mental impressions through clarity and detail.

    Example

    I still have a vivid memory of my first day at school.

    Example

    The witness provided a vivid account of the event, describing the suspect's clothing and speech with remarkable precision.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 a marker pen (n.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect

    a brand of permanent marker pen used for writing on many surfaces.

    a proprietary eponym for a felt-tipped permanent marker.

    Example

    Can you pass me a vivid so I can write my name on this box?

    Example

    He used a black vivid to label the moving crates, ensuring the ink wouldn't smudge if the cardboard got damp.

    Usage

    Commonly used in New Zealand English as a generic term for any permanent marker.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a regional term; outside of New Zealand, people will simply say 'marker' or 'Sharpie'.
Origin

Learned borrowing from Latin vividus (“animated, spirited”), from vivere (“to live”), akin to vita (“life”), Ancient Greek βίος (bíos, “life”). The noun sense (a type of marker pen) was genericized from Bic's Vivid Marker brand.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference