complexion
Americannoun
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the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.
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appearance; aspect; character.
His confession put a different complexion on things.
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viewpoint, attitude, or conviction.
one's political complexion.
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(in old physiology) constitution or nature of body and mind, regarded as the result of certain combined qualities.
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Obsolete. nature; disposition; temperament.
noun
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the colour and general appearance of a person's skin, esp of the face
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aspect, character, or nature
the general complexion of a nation's finances
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obsolete
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the temperament of a person
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the temperature and general appearance of the body
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Other Word Forms
- complexional adjective
- complexionally adverb
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
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.
Matches come so quickly that the entire complexion of the title race can change in a matter of days.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
Those investments changed the complexion of Lisbon and Porto, as land values rose and the cities’ housing markets were reshaped, according to the report, which quantifies these changes.
From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025
“Again, this has not happened yet, but it’s a scenario we need to stay alert to, as a confirmed breakdown would clearly shift the market’s complexion in a meaningful way,” Cappelleri wrote.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 19, 2025
While Ohtani was hitless in five at-bats on Wednesday night, Phillies counterpart Kyle Schwarber launched two homers, including a 455-foot blast in the fourth inning that changed the complexion of the game and series.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025
Emma would not agree to this, and began a warm defence of Miss Fairfax’s complexion.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Definitions 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.
