metamorphosis

noun

meta·​mor·​pho·​sis ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs 

plural metamorphoses ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means

the metamorphosis of humans into animals

b

: a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances

The company has gone through a series of metamorphoses.

2

: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (such as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching

the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies

Did you know?

Many ancient myths end in a metamorphosis. As Apollo is chasing the nymph Daphne, she calls on her river-god father for help and he turns her into a laurel tree to save her. Out of anger and jealousy, the goddess Athena turns the marvelous weaver Arachne into a spider that will spin only beautiful webs. But natural substances may also metamorphose, or undergo metamorphosis. Heat and pressure over thousands of years may eventually turn tiny organisms into petroleum, and coal into diamonds. And the most beloved of natural metamorphoses (notice how this plural is formed) is probably the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies.

Synonyms

• transformation
• conversion

Examples of metamorphosis in a Sentence

We have watched her metamorphosis from a shy schoolgirl into a self-confident businesswoman.

a company that has gone through a series of metamorphoses

The government has undergone political metamorphosis since his election.

the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs

The class learned about how caterpillars undergo metamorphosis to become butterflies.

Recent Examples on the Web

The resulting piece was a pair of butterfly wings braided into her hair intended to symbolize her recent metamorphosis. —Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Jenkins’ push to help more prosecutors understand and value this metamorphosis might be crucial to helping the public support it as well — especially for those D.A.s whose constituents are just fine with a system that locks up men to suffer for their (often atrocious) crimes. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025

In other words, this uber-focus is a result of their own metamorphoses as filmmakers and as human beings. —Lauren Wissot, IndieWire, 21 May 2025

In 2016, Mubi underwent another metamorphosis, getting into the theatrical-distribution game. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Methamorphoseos, as the title of Ovid's poem or its contents, borrowed from Latin Metamorphōsēs, as the title of Ovid's poem, literally, "Transformations" (Late Latin metamorphōsis "transfiguration, change into another form"), borrowed from Greek metamórphōsis (from 1st century A.D.) "transformation," from metamorphō-, variant stem of metamorphóō, metamorphoûn "to transform" (earlier in New Testament metamorphoûsthai "to be transfigured") (from meta- meta- + morphóō, morphoûn "to give a form to," derivative of morphḗ "physical or visible form, appearance," of uncertain origin) + -sis -sis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

metamorphosis

noun

meta·​mor·​pho·​sis ˌmet-ə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs 

plural metamorphoses -fə-ˌsēz 

1

: a change of form, structure, or substance especially by witchcraft or magic

2

: an extraordinary change in appearance, character, or circumstances

3

: the process of basic and usually rather sudden change in the form and habits of some animals during transformation from an immature stage (as a tadpole or a caterpillar) to an adult stage (as a frog or a butterfly) compare complete metamorphosis, incomplete metamorphosis

Medical Definition

metamorphosis

noun

meta·​mor·​pho·​sis ˌmet-ə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs 

plural metamorphoses -ˌsēz 

1

: change of physical form, structure, or substance

2

: a marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching