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

• changeover
• conversion
• transfiguration
• transformation

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

However, the most dramatic metamorphosis has come from Wes Moore, the governor. —Yuripzy Morgan, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025

The ideological metamorphoses Vargas Llosa went through are not so uncommon these days: from the left to the right and vice versa, from peaceful discourse to revolutionary rhetoric, from a democratic stand to the belief in a centralized power and back. —Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025

Wide support for a stronger, more independent Germany is lending an aura of inevitability to the country’s metamorphosis. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2025

According to researchers, removing a single gene that controls production of a hormone called thyroxine can create swarms of tadpoles incapable of their usual metamorphosis into adult amphibians. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 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