Metamorphosis
noun /ˌmet.əˈmɔː.fə.sɪs/ — A complete, profound transformation of form, nature, or character
Definition
A fundamental and complete change in form, nature, or character — as in the biological transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, or the profound shifts of self that mark a human life.
Beyond the definition
Change that goes all the way. Metamorphosis is not improvement or development — it is a change so complete that what comes out is not recognisably the same as what went in. The caterpillar does not become a better caterpillar. It becomes something else entirely.
Origin & history
From Greek 'metamorphosis' (transformation) — 'meta-' (after, beyond) + 'morphe' (form). Used by Ovid as the title of his great mythological poem cataloguing the transformations of gods and humans. The word has carried the weight of radical change ever since.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The metamorphosis inside the chrysalis is not gradual — the caterpillar liquefies completely before the butterfly assembles itself from the material.
Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' uses the literal transformation to speak of the inner kind: the person who wakes one day to find they have become unrecognisable to themselves.
Some relationships produce metamorphosis in both people — what you were before is not what you are after, and you could not go back if you tried.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Metamorphosis” when the meaning fits your context: A fundamental and complete change in form, nature, or character — as in the biological transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, or the profound shifts of self that mark a human life.
Synonyms
transformation, transfiguration, transmutation, change
Antonyms
stasis, continuity, preservation
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Metamorphosis" mean?
Metamorphosis is noun meaning: A complete, profound transformation of form, nature, or character. A fundamental and complete change in form, nature, or character — as in the biological transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, or the profound shifts of self that mark a human life.
Where does the word "Metamorphosis" come from?
From Greek 'metamorphosis' (transformation) — 'meta-' (after, beyond) + 'morphe' (form). Used by Ovid as the title of his great mythological poem cataloguing the transformations of gods and humans. The word has carried the weight of radical change ever since.