physiognomy

noun

phys·​i·​og·​no·​my ˌfi-zē-ˈä(g)-nə-mē 

plural physiognomies

1

: the art of discovering temperament and character from outward appearance

2

: the facial features held to show qualities of mind or character by their configuration or expression

3

: external aspect

also : inner character or quality revealed outwardly

Examples of physiognomy in a Sentence

He and his son have the same distinctive physiognomy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kahn presents an extraordinary panoply of European, African, and Latin faces — physiognomies that instantly convey a liberal democracy in conflict. —Armond White, National Review, 6 Sep. 2024

Guston’s first comic for The Junior Times, a sparse strip drawn at age 12, introduced Little Snowball, a Black youth bearing exaggerated racial physiognomy and dialect. —Walker Mimms, New York Times, 4 June 2024

Her husband would catch her staring clinically at his physiognomy. —Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024

And, of course, there was the perennial punch line of physiognomy: sight gags, sketches, and songs that depicted Jewish bodies as misshapen and absurd. —Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English phisonomie, from Anglo-French phisenomie, from Late Latin physiognomonia, physiognomia, from Greek physiognōmonia, from physiognōmōn judging character by the features, from physis nature, physique, appearance + gnōmōn interpreter — more at gnomon

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

physiognomy

noun

phys·​i·​og·​no·​my ˌfiz-ē-ˈä(g)-nə-mē 

plural physiognomies

: facial features or expression thought to reveal qualities of mind or character

Medical Definition

physiognomy

noun

phys·​i·​og·​no·​my ˌfiz-ē-ˈä(g)-nə-mē 

plural physiognomies

1

: the art of discovering temperament and character from outward appearance

2

: the facial features held to show qualities of mind or character by their configuration or expression