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• transfiguration
  transfiguration

  noun

  the act of transfiguring.
• Transfiguration
  Transfiguration

  noun

  New Testament the change in the appearance of Christ that took place before three disciples (Matthew 17:1–9)

transfiguration

American  

[trans-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn, trans-fig-] / ˌtræns fɪg jəˈreɪ ʃən, trænsˌfɪg- /

noun

1. the act of transfiguring.

2. the state of being transfigured.

3. (initial capital letter) the supernatural and glorified change in the appearance of Jesus on the mountain. Matthew 17:1–9.

4. (initial capital letter) the church festival commemorating this, observed on August 6.

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Transfiguration ¹ British  

/ ˌtrænsfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. New Testament the change in the appearance of Christ that took place before three disciples (Matthew 17:1–9)

2. the Church festival held in commemoration of this on Aug 6

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transfiguration ² British  

/ ˌtrænsfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transfiguring or the state of being transfigured

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Etymology

Origin of transfiguration

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English Transfiguracion, from Latin trānsfigūrātiōn- (stem of trānsfigūrātiō ) “change of shape”; see origin at transfigure, -ation

Explanation

If your teenage cousin was only seven the last time you saw her, you might describe her as having undergone a transfiguration, or an enormous physical change. When a person's appearance changes dramatically, that's one kind of transfiguration. A magician changing a dove into a bouquet of flowers also performs a transfiguration. The word shows up frequently in religious writing as well, describing a more spiritual kind of change. In fact, the origin of transfiguration is mostly religious. While the Latin root, transfigurare, means "change the shape of," transfiguration was first used in English to mean "the change in appearance of Christ."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transfiguration Transfiguration

After collaborating on an early workshop of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the two joined forces to bring to life wand duels, transfiguration potions and the Mind Flayer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025

In the empty streets of Metamorfosi, which in Greek means transfiguration, piles of residents' belongings, framed paintings, furniture, blankets and carpets, are the only spot of colour in the mud.

From Reuters ● Sep. 27, 2023

Wheeldon gives the score’s moment of transfiguration to the backdrop, letting both the dancers and us gaze at it in wonder, as we might behold a glorious dawn.

From New York Times ● May 5, 2023

There is nothing left to say about the transfiguration of M&Ms in the script to Reese's Pieces.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2022

The three-dimensional object has not been perfectly represented in its transfiguration into two dimensions.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

The cemetery and buildings including the Church of the Transfiguration of Sotiros, a religious site visited by thousands of pilgrims each year, have suffered heavy damage.

From Reuters ● Sep. 27, 2023

Austere in form, “Heroes,” steeps us in the heated conversation of its characters as they reveal how they’ve changed since leaving the security of Transfiguration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2023

At Transfiguration Cathedral, Father Oleksii was trying to make sense of the trauma, and praying that his city did not become another Ukrainian ruin.

From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2023

“Look, my flower! Look how many people came to you,” Liza’s grandmother, Larysa Dmytryshyna, said, caressing Liza as she lay in an open coffin with flowers and teddy bears in Vinnytsia’s 18th-century Transfiguration Cathedral.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 17, 2022

Finally, in the last week of May, Professor McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling