colourful
adjective C1
Plain meaning
full of colour, interest, or lively detail
Exam-register meaning
In academic or exam contexts, it means full of colour, interest, or lively detail, usually in a more formal register.
In context
naturalHis response sounded colourful, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a colourful assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a colourful responsecolourful behavioura colourful situation
Watch out
Do not use “very colourful” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
colourfulness (noun, where natural)colourfully (adverb, where natural)