chameleon

American  

[kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn] / kəˈmi li ən, -ˈmil yən /

noun

1. any of numerous Old World lizards of the family Chamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change the color of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectile tongue.

2. any of several American lizards capable of changing the color of the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis American chameleon, of the southeastern U.S.

3. a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.

4. (initial capital letter) Chamaeleon.

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chameleon British  

/ kəˌmiːlɪˈɒnɪk, kəˈmiːlɪən /

noun

1. any lizard of the family Chamaeleontidae of Africa and Madagascar, having long slender legs, a prehensile tail and tongue, and the ability to change colour

2. a changeable or fickle person

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Other Word Forms

• chameleon-like adjective
• chameleonic adjective
• chameleonlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of chameleon

1300–50; variant of chamaeleon < Latin < Greek chamailéōn, equivalent to chamaí on the ground, dwarf (akin to humus ) + léōn lion; replacing Middle English camelion < Middle French < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Not to belabor the reptile references, but Byrne is something of a creative chameleon, moving easily from drama to comedy to horror, film to television to stage and back again.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Pop chameleon Lady Gaga and Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny also are competing in all three top categories.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

David was a political chameleon who nimbly navigated a volatile epoch while remaining an artist of the highest professionalism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

Genetic and anatomical studies now show that the reptile long referred to as the Pinocchio chameleon is not the species scientists thought it was.

From Science Daily • Dec. 13, 2025

I was always well liked and well accepted by all, and I always managed to fit in like a chameleon.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman