sea change
Americannoun
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a striking change, as in appearance, often for the better.
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any major transformation or alteration.
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a transformation brought about by the sea.
noun
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.
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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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.