complexion
Americannoun
-
complexions
plural
-
the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.
-
appearance; aspect; character.
His confession put a different complexion on things.
-
viewpoint, attitude, or conviction.
one's political complexion.
-
(in old physiology) constitution or nature of body and mind, regarded as the result of certain combined qualities.
-
Obsolete. nature; disposition; temperament.
noun
-
the colour and general appearance of a person's skin, esp of the face
-
aspect, character, or nature
the general complexion of a nation's finances
-
obsolete
-
the temperament of a person
-
the temperature and general appearance of the body
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of complexion
1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin complexiōn- (stem of complexiō ) constitution, temperament, Latin: combination, group, literally, the act of embracing. See complex, -ion
Explanation
Complexion refers to the color of a person's skin, especially the face. If you have light skin, for example, you might be said to have a fair or pale complexion. The general character of something can also be called its complexion. If your team's star quarterback is out with an injury, it will change the complexion of the next game and possibly the entire season. Complexion originally referred to the humors that in ancient Greek and Roman medicine supposedly made up a person's temperament and health. The word came from the Latin complexionem, or "combination," but as humorism fell out of favor, this definition of complexion also became obsolete.
Vocabulary lists containing complexion
Much Ado About Nothing
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Bronx Masquerade
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Strip that money out and it changes the whole complexion of the competition.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Seeing an Afro-Latina woman with a darker skin complexion achieve such a level of success was the representation I needed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
No host other than Conan O’Brien got more mileage out of his pale complexion, like when Colbert boasted of a vacation tan that took his skin tone “from porcelain to poached chicken breast.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
It is already changing the entire complexion of this men’s tennis season that is missing 50% of the Big Two.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
Francis laughs and looks at me, her dark complexion making her lilac hair even more vibrant.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
It is turning out to be quite the month for trade deals of various complexions.
From BBC ● May 8, 2025
DEI has even forced the beauty industry, which has historically focused on products to suit Eurocentric complexions, to acknowledge that people of color buy makeup, too.
From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2025
While melanoma may be found less frequently in people with darker complexions than fair ones, this potentially serious form of cancer can strike anyone.
From Science Daily ● May 10, 2024
Germany’s 16 states, which have significant powers in many policy areas, have governments of many different political complexions.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 23, 2023
The disappointment he felt in his daughters sifted down on them like ash, dulling their buttery complexions and choking the lilt out of what should have been girlish voices.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
