complexion
com·plex·ion/kəmˈplɛkʃən/noun, verb
complexion is spelled C-O-M-P-L-E-X-I-O-N: 10 letters and 3 syllables (com·plex·ion). It appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 19,825th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, complexion means “The quality, colour, or appearance of the skin on the face” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of complexion is complexions.
How many letters and syllables are in complexion?
| Letters | 10: C-O-M-P-L-E-X-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: com·plex·ion |
| In writing | 1.9 times per million words; the 19,825th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is complexion?
Complexion appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 19,825th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce complexion?
- US /kəmˈplɛkʃən/
Complexion has 3 syllables, split com·plex·ion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-complexion.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with complexion
Also written: complex ion (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with complexion?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as complexion from its last stressed vowel (/ɛkʃən/):
- section
- direction
- detection
- perfection
- deflection
- interconnection
- imperfection
- flexion
- interjection
- dejection
- circumspection
- bisection
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of complexion
- complexions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- complexioning participle, present
- complexioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does complexion mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The quality, colour, or appearance of the skin on the face.
a rugged complexion
- 2
The outward appearance of something.
- 3
Outlook, attitude, or point of view.
- 4
obsoleteThe combination of humours making up one's physiological "temperament", being either hot or cold, and moist or dry.
- 5
An arrangement.
verb
- 1
To give a colour to.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Complexion in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense appearance of the skin on the face:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | teint, complexion |
| German | Teint, Gesichtsfarbe |
| Portuguese | tez |
| Spanish | tez, cutis |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does complexion come from?
From Middle English complexion (“temperament”), from Old French complexion (French complexion), from Medieval Latin complexiō (“complexion, constitution”), from complector, past participle complexus (“to entwine, encompass”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).