Proteus

American  

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

noun

plural

protei

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.”

Example Sentences

Some of those new technologies were on display, from a remote-controlled speedboat, zipping about in the harbour, to a mock-up of Proteus, the navy's first pilotless helicopter.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

They’re jobs that Amazon calculated cost more than a Proteus autonomous mobile robot.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 12, 2025

Three of the passengers were associated with Proteus Aero, a flight school based at the Santa Monica airport.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2024

Proteus was designed by Yves Behar, a well-known designer.

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