complexion

American  

[kuhm-plek-shuhn] / kəmˈplɛk ʃən /

Or complection

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.

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complexion British  

/ 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

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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

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.

Example Sentences

The fund’s one-year daily chart is showing some nice technical action, and is taking little steps to improve its complexion.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

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

“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

Dock’s 1894 certificate, signed by a collector of internal revenue in Portland, Ore., lists his occupation as a cook, and his complexion as “dark.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2025

His warm complexion had blanched to an ashy pallor, beads of sweat gleaming on his brow and cheeks.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• character
• nature