Proteus

American  

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

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

Noun Inflected Forms

• protei
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Proteus

On her way out, Nanna pocketed a mosaic tile depicting the shape-shifting Greek sea god Proteus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The researchers say this difference could mean Proteus formed again from material located in another part of the debris disk.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

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

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

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2025

Enraged though he was, Proteus would not kill him.

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