Words / B2

k-uh-m-PLEKSHUN/kəmˈplekʃn/

Complexion is the natural colour and appearance of facial skin, or the general character of a situation: a pale complexion; change the complexion of. Colour is broader; complexity is how complicated something is (already in the dictionary). That finding changes the complexion of the argument. Mix-up: complexity / complementary. Do not write complexion for a whole personality test.

Meaning

The natural colour and appearance of the skin on a person’s face; also the general character of a situation.

Examples

• “That finding changes the complexion of the argument, the evaluation said.”
• “Describe complexion only if the source does; do not stereotype, which is the appearance-sense caution.”

Good to know

a complexion; change the complexion of. Trap: complexity. Literature, news, and evaluations. Face colour, or the overall character of a situation — specify.

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