com ‧ plex ‧ ion /kəmˈplekʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Medieval Latin complexio , from Latin , 'combination' , from complexus ; ⇨ ↑ complex 1 ]
1 . [countable] the natural colour or appearance of the skin on your face:
Drinking water is good for the complexion.
pale/fair/ruddy etc complexion (=a pale, fair, red etc face)
fair-complexioned/smooth-complexioned etc
She was fair-complexioned with blonde hair.
2 . [singular] the general character or nature of something:
Crime has risen under governments of every political complexion.
3 . put a different/new/fresh complexion on something to make a situation or event seem different:
This document puts a different complexion on the matter.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ pale (=lacking colour and often not healthy)
Her complexion was pale and spotty.
▪ fair (=light in colour)
People with fair complexions should use plenty of sunscreen.
▪ dark
Bright colours may suit you if your complexion is dark.
▪ clear (=without any spots)
Eating fresh fruit and vegetables will help keep your complexion clear.
▪ a fresh/healthy complexion (=healthy and clean)
a young man with a fresh complexion
▪ a flawless/perfect complexion (=perfect and with no marks or spots)
Foundation is meant to give the illusion of a flawless complexion.
▪ a tanned complexion (=brown because of the sun)
He looked distinguished with his greying hair and tanned complexion.
▪ a ruddy complexion (=reddish in colour – used mostly about men)
He had black hair and a ruddy complexion.
▪ a florid complexion literary (=red in an unpleasant or unhealthy way)
He had the florid complexion of a man who drinks too much.
▪ an olive complexion (=the skin colour that is typical of Greek, Italian, Turkish etc people)
These colours complement an olive complexion.
▪ a glowing/rosy/pink complexion (=healthy and pink – used about women or children)
▪ a sallow complexion (=slightly yellow)
A sallow complexion can be a sign of illness.
▪ a swarthy complexion literary (=dark)
She had never met anyone with his swarthy complexion.
▪ a bad complexion (=with spots or marks on it)
▪ a blotchy complexion (=with unpleasant red patches of colour in the skin)