Word
visage
Phoneticsvis·age, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɪzədʒ/
UK/vˈɪsɪdʒ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person's face, especially when it is described in a serious or formal way. It is an old-fashioned word that people use to sound more poetic or dramatic.
n. the face of a person, typically used in a literary or formal context. Often carries a connotation of solemnity, beauty, or age.
Examples
“The poet described the queen's beautiful visage.”
“The portrait captured the subject's youthful visage, though the artist had only met him in his later years.”
“The marble bust preserved the noble visage of the statesman, though the deep lines in the stone suggested a life of constant political struggle and quiet contemplation.”
Examples
simple
“The poet described the queen's beautiful visage.”
contextual
“The portrait captured the subject's youthful visage, though the artist had only met him in his later years.”
complex
“The marble bust preserved the noble visage of the statesman, though the deep lines in the stone suggested a life of constant political struggle and quiet contemplation.”
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Channel 4/Olly Courtney Pierre’s world is generously populated with colourful characters besides (bonus casting points for the inclusion of Christopher Fairbank’s delightfully Dickensian visage), which means there’s a lot of ground to cover.” “The public response was no more supportive than that which greeted the retired baseball great Sammy Sosa when he dramatically whitened his once dark visage.” “You walk among them, come close to gaze into an anguished visage or at a fallen figure desperately clutching at another’s steel ankle.” Etymology
From Middle English visage, from Anglo-Norman visage, from Vulgar Latin *vīsāticum, derived from Latin vīsus (“appearance, sight”), derived from vidēre (“to see”). Compare vision.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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