mutation

noun

Definition of mutationnext
1
as in modification
a significant and basic change The sculpture series underwent several mutations as the artist experimented with different materials and techniques.

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2
as in anomaly
something that is a result of a change in the genes of a plant or animal This coloration in the bird's plumage is a rare mutation.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mutation These treatments have produced important advances, but the protein itself remains inside the cell and can regain activity or develop resistance through additional mutations. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Nine were the initial sequences output by the AI, and the remaining seven had acquired additional mutations after being inserted into bacteria. — ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026 To find the gene, scientists sequenced the coding DNA of more than a million people across three continents to scour for mutations that influence how the body stores and uses fat. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026 The paper described research on the feasibility of using gene-editing to correct the mutation the caused their daughter’s disorder but did not mention a human trial nor their daughter’s death. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mutation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutation
  1. modification
  2. anomaly
  3. alteration
  4. variation
  5. change
  6. rarity
  7. transformation
  8. variant
Noun
  • The research that was conducted in Wuhan with federal support involved modifications to bat viruses to study their potential impact on humans.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This includes mandatory cybersecurity training for staff, improvements to digital and human procedures including ACH payment verification processes, and controls within financial workflows, as well as modifications to IT staffing, said Gale.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of modification
Noun
  • Agencies are moving fast toward letting AI agents query government data directly; not just render dashboards for humans to read, but retrieve records, summarize case files and flag anomalies on their own.
    — Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Pettigrew said the object came into view in April 2015 and resembles an anomaly seen in photographs taken in the months and years after Earhart's disappearance.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • The judges rejected the administration's national security argument and said the president does not have the authority to make such major alterations to the White House without congressional approval.
    — Nathan Lee, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the deadliest cancers, including many pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers, share a common genetic alteration in a protein called KRAS.
    — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of alteration
Noun
  • Stick to common measures, focus on the broad trends, and ignore the small variations.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Moving forward, major off-price retailers will likely go directly to suppliers to manufacture deliberate, lower-cost product variations.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of variation
Noun
  • The fallout from that controversial attempt has divided the soccer landscape, with continental confederations and individual national associations all split on whether a change in FIFA leadership is needed.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of change
Noun
  • Race contestants could buy gas at a now-enviable 15 cents a gallon, but filling stations were a rarity.
    — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Improv was encouraged by Park, a rarity for a show like Sterling Point.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • Stajmiger spends time in the makeup chair before slipping into Beetlejuice's signature costume, completing the transformation from actor to one of Broadway's most recognizable characters.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The real transformation isn’t happening in new factories, but in those building an intelligence layer on top of twenty- or thirty-year-old existing plant infrastructure integrating AI, sensors, and other IoT devices.
    — Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of transformation
Noun
  • Alpha-Zero, as the system was called, surpassed human experts at chess, the Japanese chess variant Shogi, and the ancient strategy board game called Go.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The common thought is that Boris is actually Doctor Strange, the magic-wielder being a logical choice for an appearance alongside Doom (or at least some evil variant of him).
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of variant

Browse Nearby Words

mutating
mutation
mutations
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Cite this Entry

“Mutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutation. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mutation

Nglish: Translation of mutation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mutation

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