# metamorphosis

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs/ · frequency rank #27,928

## Definitions
1. A transformation, such as one performed by magic.
2. A noticeable change in character, appearance, function, or condition.
3. A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development (e.g. the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog).
4. A change, usually degenerative, in the structure of a specific body tissue.

## Etymology
First attested in 1533, from Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek μεταμόρφωσις (metamórphōsis), from μετά (metá, “change”) + μορφή (morphḗ, “form”). Analyzable as meta- + -morph + -osis

## Common misspellings (20)
`emtamorphosis`, `meatmorphosis`, `metammorphosis`, `metamoprhosis`, `metamorhposis`, `metamorphhosis`, `metamorphoiss`, `metamorphosiss`, `metamorphossi`, `metamorphossis`, `metamorphsois`, `metamorpohsis`, `metamorpphosis`, `metamorrphosis`, `metamrophosis`, `metaomrphosis`, `metmaorphosis`, `mettamorphosis`, `mmetamorphosis`, `mteamorphosis`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/metamorphosis