appearència

Appearència is a Catalan term that denotes appearance—the outward look, form, or impression of something or someone. It covers the visible traits of a person, the exterior design or surface of an object, and the overall presentation that an entity offers to observers. The concept is used across everyday language, fashion and design, art, media, and communication to discuss how things look and how that look influences perception and interpretation.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Latin roots related to coming into view and has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Spanish apariencia and French apparence. Variants and spellings may appear in different dialects or historical texts, but the core idea remains the outward, perceptible form.

Usage and nuance: Appearència can refer to literal, surface-level appearance—color, shape, texture—as well as more abstract impressions created by behavior, presentation, or styling. In philosophy and aesthetics, appearance is often contrasted with reality or essence, highlighting that what is visible or perceived may not fully reveal the underlying nature.

See also: Appearance, aesthetics, perception, visual design.