Meaning & use
light skin
Last updated
UK/ˌlaɪt ˈskɪn/
US/ˌlaɪt ˈskɪn/
Meaning
noununcountable
A skin color that is relatively pale, with little natural pigment compared with darker skin tones.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: people with light skin burn easily; the adjective form light-skinned describes a person.
Patterns
- have light skin
- light skin tone
People with light skin should wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
The doctor explained that bruises show up differently on light skin and dark skin.
Common combinations
- light skin tone
- The foundation comes in shades for light skin tones.
- burn easily on light skin
- The sun can burn light skin in minutes.
- light skin and dark hair
- She has light skin and dark hair.
- light-skinned
- The study included light-skinned and dark-skinned volunteers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fair skin
- Is the common, polite alternative and often suggests very pale skin that burns easily.
- pale skin
- Suggests lacking color, sometimes because of illness or lack of sun, not only a natural tone.
Opposites
dark skin
Word family
- light-skinned adjective
- having light skin
- skin tone noun
- the overall color of a person's skin
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? A ______ person may need extra sun protection.
Choose one answer.
Light-skinned is the adjective used before a noun like person. Light skin is a noun phrase, and the other options are not real forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “light skin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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