What does disfiguration mean?
"Disfiguration" refers to the act or process of spoiling the natural appearance of something, most often a person's face or body, though it can apply to buildings, landscapes, or objects as well. By extension it can denote the resulting state of being disfigured, or the marks left behind. The word carries a distinctly negative connotation, evoking injury, disease, vandalism, or decay, and it belongs chiefly to formal registers. In contemporary English it is considerably less common than its close relative "disfigurement," which doctors, lawyers, and journalists overwhelmingly prefer; writers typically reach for "disfiguration" when they wish to emphasize the process rather than the outcome, or simply for stylistic variation. It derives from the Latin "figura," meaning shape or form, prefixed with "dis-" to suggest undoing that shape. Related words such as "figure," "configuration," and "figurative" share this same root, all concerned with form and appearance.
nounThe action or process of spoiling or damaging the appearance of something, especially a person's face or figure; also, a state of being so disfigured.
- The action or process of damaging or spoiling the appearance of someone or something.
- A state of having a damaged or spoiled appearance; a visible mark or deformity.
"The fire left a lasting disfiguration of the building's once-elegant façade."
"Surgeons worked carefully to minimize any disfiguration after the accident."
"The statue bore the disfigurations of centuries of weathering."
The plural is used when referring to multiple instances of damage or multiple marks of disfigurement.
"The manuscript survived, but with numerous disfigurations inflicted by careless later hands."
Though "disfigurement" dominates modern usage, "disfiguration" is centuries old — both trace straight back to Latin "figura," meaning shape or form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disfiguration
"Disfiguration" comes from the verb "disfigure," formed from the prefix "dis-" (expressing reversal or removal) combined with the Latin "figura," meaning shape or form. The underlying noun entered English via Old French during the Middle Ages, and "disfiguration" itself arose in later Middle or early Modern English as an action noun. It shares its root with "figure," "configuration," "figurative," and "transfiguration."
Related word forms
How disfiguration is actually used
Somewhat formal and relatively uncommon; in everyday medical, legal, and journalistic contexts, "disfigurement" is strongly preferred. "Disfiguration" tends to appear in literary or descriptive writing.
Easily confused with disfiguration
"Disfigurement" is the far more common term for the resulting damage to appearance, while "disfiguration" more often names the act or process of disfiguring.