Complexion
/kəmˈplɛkʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe natural color and texture of the skin, particularly of the face.
/kəmˈplɛkʃən/
The natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face.
The artist carefully painted the model's complexion.
💡 Simply: Your complexion is basically the way your skin looks – its color, smoothness, and how it appears overall. It's what someone might comment on when they say, "You have a lovely complexion!" or "That sun seems to be affecting your complexion."
👶 For kids: The way your skin looks, like its color and if it's smooth or not. Like, "She has a rosy complexion."
More Examples
A healthy diet can improve your complexion.
The cream promises to even out the complexion.
How It's Used
"The beauty product is designed to improve the complexion."
"The doctor examined the patient's complexion for signs of illness."
"She has a beautiful complexion."
The general character or nature of something, often used to describe a situation or event.
/kəmˈplɛkʃən/
The general character or nature of something.
The recent events gave a dark complexion to the mood of the meeting.
💡 Simply: Imagine the word 'complexion' like the overall 'vibe' or feeling something gives off. For example, "The news gave a somber complexion to the day." It's how things seem.
👶 For kids: How something feels or looks, like the mood of a story.
More Examples
The change in leadership gave a new complexion to the company's strategy.
The initial report provided a positive complexion to the overall performance.
How It's Used
"The political discourse gave a grim complexion to the negotiations."
"The economic downturn gave a negative complexion to the market."
Idioms & expressions
give a … complexion to
To provide a specific feeling or character to something.
"The evidence gave a grim complexion to the case."
From Middle English complexioun, from Old French complexion, from Latin complexio ('a weaving together, a combination'), from complectere ('to embrace, entwine'). Originally referring to the combination of bodily humors influencing one's physical constitution, it evolved to encompass skin appearance.
Historically, 'complexion' was used to describe a person's physical constitution as determined by the balance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile).
Memory tip
Think of the word 'complex' as in a combination of colors that make up your skin's appearance.