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View synonyms for complexion

complexion

or com·plec·tion

[ kuhm-plek-shuhn ]

noun

  1. the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face:

    a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.

  2. appearance; aspect; character:

    His confession put a different complexion on things.

  3. viewpoint, attitude, or conviction:

    one's political complexion.

  4. (in old physiology) constitution or nature of body and mind, regarded as the result of certain combined qualities.
  5. Obsolete. nature; disposition; temperament.


complexion

/ kəmˈplɛkʃən /

noun

  1. the colour and general appearance of a person's skin, esp of the face
  2. aspect, character, or nature

    the general complexion of a nation's finances

  3. obsolete.
    1. the temperament of a person
    2. the temperature and general appearance of the body
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • comˈplexional, adjective
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Other Words From

  • com·plexion·al adjective
  • com·plexion·al·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of complexion1

1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin complexiōn- (stem of complexiō ) constitution, temperament, Latin: combination, group, literally, the act of embracing. See complex, -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of complexion1

C14: from medical Latin complexiō one's bodily characteristics, from Latin: a combination, from complectī to embrace; see complex
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Example Sentences

My eldest daughter is African-American, my little one is Mexican-American, and her complexion is a little bit closer to mine.

From Salon

“But I got people telling me my career isn’t as good as someone else’s because of the complexion of my skin? No, babe, I won’t let you project that onto me.”

The introduction of Noman and Sajid after Pakistan lost the first Test changed the complexion of the series and once more they shared all 10 wickets.

From BBC

As it happens, the use of “red” and “blue” to denote Republicans, Democrats and the states’ political complexions also became a fixture of our politics that year.

Safety Bryan Addison intercepted a pass to end one late Rutgers drive, and the Bruins stuffed the Scarlet Knights on a pair of two-point conversions that could have changed the complexion of the game.

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