What does complexional mean?
"Complexional" is an adjective describing anything related to a person's complexion — particularly the natural color, tone, and appearance of the skin on the face. It is formed directly from "complexion" by adding the adjectival suffix "-al," making it the formal equivalent of saying "relating to one's complexion." The word appears most often in literary, medical, or historical contexts rather than everyday speech; for example, a writer might note "complexional differences" between family members, or an old medical text might classify patients by "complexional type." Because "complexion" itself can also refer more broadly to someone's general appearance or even to the essential character of something, "complexional" occasionally carries that extended sense as well, though this use is quite rare. Today the word is uncommon and reads as formal or somewhat old-fashioned; speakers typically prefer simpler phrasing such as "skin tone" or "facial coloring" in ordinary conversation.
adjectiveRelating to a person's complexion, especially the natural color and appearance of their facial skin.
- Relating to the complexion or natural coloring of the facial skin.
- (Rare, dated) Relating to one's overall constitution or temperament.
"Her complexional differences from her siblings made them easy to tell apart."
"The portrait artist paid careful attention to her subject's complexional tones."
"Doctors once classified patients by complexional type, believing it indicated underlying temperament."
Before photography could flatter anyone, Victorian writers judged character by 'complexional' traits — believing your face revealed your inner constitution.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of complexional
"Complexional" derives from the Middle English word "complexion," which came into English via Old French "complection" from Latin "complexio," meaning "combination" or "mixture." In medieval medicine, a person's "complexion" was understood as the particular mixture of the four bodily humors — blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile — which was thought to determine both physical appearance and temperament. Over time, the word narrowed in English to refer primarily to the visible coloring of facial skin. The adjectival suffix "-al" was added to form "complexional," following a common pattern of Latin-derived noun-to-adjective formation.
How complexional is actually used
A formal, somewhat literary word; rare in modern usage, appearing mostly in historical or medical writing.
Easily confused with complexional
Complexion is the noun meaning the color or appearance of facial skin, while complexional is the adjective form describing something that relates to it.
Constitutional relates to a person's physical makeup or health in general, whereas complexional refers specifically to skin coloring.