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Synonyms

sea change

American  

noun

  1. a striking change, as in appearance, often for the better.

  2. any major transformation or alteration.

  3. a transformation brought about by the sea.


sea change British  

noun

  1. a seemingly magical change, as brought about by the action of the sea

"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

Etymology

Origin of sea change

First recorded in 1600–10

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.

See Examples For:

Artificial intelligence has been a sea change for the workplace, with its capacity to research and analyze reams of information at lightning-fast speeds.

From MarketWatch Sep. 1, 2026

As for Major, he wonders how another political sea change could affect his business.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 13, 2026

Leavitt's tenure as press secretary saw a revival of regular briefings that had petered out during the first term, but she presided over sea change on White House interactions with journalists.

From Barron's Aug. 12, 2026

“This industry is going through a sea change, and we think multiples will increase commensurate with the revenue growth these companies are beginning to produce,” Mazza said.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 6, 2026

The Great Depression effectuated a sea change in American race relations and party alignment.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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