complected
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
Complected, a back formation from complexion, is an Americanism dating from the early 19th century. Although it has been criticized by some as a dialectal or nonstandard substitution for complexioned, it occurs in the speech of educated persons and occasionally in edited writing.
Etymology
Origin of complected
1800–10, complect- (back formation from complexion, presumably taken as *complection ) + -ed 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most of the students were darkly complected and apparently of South Asian heritage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
The woman in the sepia toned photo from the 1890s appears dark complected.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 28, 2023
“Dad was dark complected and, because he grew up in San Antonio and went to Alamo Heights High School, he spoke Spanish fluently,” said his son.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2018
Franklin Hall was a big, healthy, darkly complected man – 6ft 5in tall and more than 300lb, with size 17 shoes.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 21, 2016
She was dark of eye and fair complected.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
