What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
faces
Example
Her face lit up with joy when she saw her family. [face: noun]
Example
He faces many challenges in his new job. [faces: verb]
visage
Example
The artist captured the sadness in the visage of the subject. [visage: noun]
Example
The visage of the city changed dramatically after the earthquake. [visage: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Faces is more common than visage in everyday language, and is versatile enough to be used in a variety of contexts. Visage, on the other hand, is less commonly used and is typically reserved for more formal or literary writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between faces and visage?
Visage is more formal and literary than faces, and is typically used in more elevated or artistic contexts. Faces, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.