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.

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sea change British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of sea change

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Indeed, Powell’s Sunday night statement on the DOJ probe was a sea change for the Fed chair.

From MarketWatch

The result was “a sea change in the economics of the malpractice plaintiffs’ bar,” Rand found, with cases where the judgment cap would cut too deeply into attorney fees getting short shrift.

From Los Angeles Times

The Inspector General’s Office is now expected to undergo a sea change with the retirement of the only leader it has ever had.

From Los Angeles Times

Even beyond this “perfect storm,” though, Whipp sees a sea change afoot.

From Los Angeles Times

The new system would represent a sea change, allowing law enforcement to request enormous swaths of confidential data in bulk through an automated, computerized process.

From Salon