English Reference
Noun

countenance

n.
C2 Proficiency US /ˈkaʊntənəns/ UK /kˈaʊntənəns/ coun·te·nance UK spelling countenanced, countenances, countenancing

n.the face or the expression on someone's face. It is an old-fashioned word that you might see in books or formal speeches.

n.the face or the facial expression of a person. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a person's appearance or emotional state.


SIMPLE

He had a stern countenance that made everyone feel nervous.

CONTEXTUAL

The judge's countenance remained neutral throughout the entire trial, showing no sign of favor or anger.

COMPLEX

The portrait captures the subject's countenance with such precision that even the subtle tension in his jawline is visible to the viewer.

Lamour had also made clear that he would countenance losing his job as a consequence of opposing the plan, which was shelved hours after he spoke out on 31 July.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

I think doctors often aren’t adept at countenancing things that cannot be measured with a lab test.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

From Middle English contenaunce, countenaunce, from Anglo-Norman countenance and Old French contenance, from the present participle of contenir, or from Late Latin continentia, and therefore a doublet of continence.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-lat continentia
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated