shapeshifter

American  

[shayp-shif-ter] / ˈʃeɪpˌʃɪf tər /

noun

1. a fictional being that can transform itself from one physical form into another.

   Zeus was a great shapeshifter, taking many unexpected forms, including that of a swan, a gopher, a cloud, and even a shower of gold.

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Other Word Forms

• shapeshifting
  noun
• shapeshift
  verb (used without object)

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Etymology

Origin of shapeshifter

First recorded in 1885–90; shape ( def. ) + shifter ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shapeshifter

Native American tradition speaks of a type of shapeshifter known as a tolik, or human bear, who can cast lethal spells on their enemies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

No matter if whipped into an icing, deep-fried and served with a sticky dipping sauce or simply steamed, tofu is a shapeshifter.

From Salon ● May 21, 2025

Jenrick is also a Thatcher fan - one of his daughters has Thatcher for a middle name - but Badenoch's supporters have accused him of being a "shapeshifter".

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2024

To others, it’s a shapeshifter, said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, which analyzes and consults on color, including for the folks who made this year’s “The Color Purple.”

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 19, 2023

“Mystique’s a shapeshifter, so she always wins,” I said.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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