Longfaced

Longfaced is an adjective used to describe a person whose face is relatively long and narrow, often giving the impression of solemnity or seriousness. The term can refer to facial proportions rather than mood, and is commonly found in descriptive writing, portraiture, and casual description. It is primarily a descriptive label rather than a medical term.

In usage, longfaced denotes physical characteristics such as a lengthened face or a tapering jawline. Because it touches appearance, it can be perceived as pejorative or sensitive depending on context and tone; speakers should consider the potential for offense and choose wording accordingly.

Etymology and usage notes: The form is a compound of long and faced, with hyphenation common in modern English (long-faced). It appears across periods and registers, from literature to everyday speech, though it is not a technical anatomical term. The related concept is facial morphology, and the term is typically used descriptively rather than diagnostically.

See also: facial morphology, descriptive adjectives for physical features, portrait description.