Synonyms

Proteus

American

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

noun

Classical Mythology. a sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys, noted for his ability to assume different forms and to prophesy.
a person or thing that readily changes appearance, character, principles, etc.
(lowercase) any of several rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria of the genus Proteus, sometimes found as pathogens in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of humans.

Proteus British

/ ˈprəʊtɪəs /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Proteus Cultural

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Together Mr. Cousteau and Mr. Behar are working to raise money to build Proteus.

From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 25, 2024

Finally Proteus was won over by his courage and his good fortune, too; he became friends with him and gave him his daughter to marry.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023