Proteus

American  

[proh-tee-uhs, -tyoos] / ˈproʊ ti əs, -tyus /

noun

protei plural

1. Classical Mythology. a sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys, noted for his ability to assume different forms and to prophesy.

2. a person or thing that readily changes appearance, character, principles, etc.

3. (lowercase) any of several rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria of the genus Proteus, sometimes found as pathogens in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of humans.

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Proteus British  

/ ˈprəʊtɪəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a prophetic sea god capable of changing his shape at will

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Proteus Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, a god who served Poseidon. Proteus could change his shape at will.

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Someone or something that easily takes on several different forms may be called “protean.”

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• protei
  plural

Example Sentences

Proteus doesn’t call in sick, doesn’t file workers’ comp and doesn’t require bathroom breaks.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 12, 2025

The team sees the Proteus taking off from a Royal Navy frigate, flying to pre-set co-ordinates, dropping the high-tech buoys, then returning to the flight deck.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025

He still had a plane hangared there and was friends with people at Proteus.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2024

Like the ISS, Proteus is designed so that it can grow in the future, as scientists decide to add new sections or equipment to the station.

From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 25, 2024

There he seized Proteus and did not let him go, in spite of the terrible forms he assumed, until the god was discouraged and returned to his own shape.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton