transformation

American  

[trans-fer-mey-shuhn] / ˌtræns fərˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of transforming.

2. the state of being transformed.

3. change in form, appearance, nature, or character.

4. Theater. a seemingly miraculous change in the appearance of scenery or actors in view of the audience.

5. Also called transform.  Logic. one of a set of algebraic formulas used to express the relations between elements, sets, etc., that form parts of a given system.

6. Mathematics.

   1. the act, process, or result of transforming or mapping.

   2. function.

7. Linguistics.

   1. transformational rule.

   2. the process by which deep structures are converted into surface structures using transformational rules.

8. Genetics. the transfer of genetic material from one cell to another resulting in a genetic change in the recipient cell.

9. a wig or hairpiece for a woman.

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transformation British  

/ ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a change or alteration, esp a radical one

2. the act of transforming or the state of being transformed

3. maths

   1. a change in position or direction of the reference axes in a coordinate system without an alteration in their relative angle

   2. an equivalent change in an expression or equation resulting from the substitution of one set of variables by another

4. physics a change in an atomic nucleus to a different nuclide as the result of the emission of either an alpha-particle or a beta-particle Compare transition

5. linguistics another word for transformational rule

6. an apparently miraculous change in the appearance of a stage set

7. (in South Africa) a national strategy aimed at attaining national unity, promoting reconciliation through negotiated settlement and non-racism

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transformation Scientific  

/ trăns′fər-mā′shən /

1. The genetic alteration of a bacteria cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell or from a virus. Plasmids, which contain extrachromosomal DNA, are used to transform bacteria in recombinant DNA research.

2. The change undergone by an animal cell upon infection by a cancer-causing virus.

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Other Word Forms

• nontransformation
  noun
• retransformation
  noun
• self-transformation
  noun
• transformational
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of transformation

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin trānsfōrmātiōn-, stem of trānsfōrmātiō “change of shape”; equivalent to trans- + formation

Explanation

A transformation is a dramatic change in form or appearance. An important event like getting your driver’s license, going to college, or getting married can cause a transformation in your life. A transformation is an extreme, radical change. A simple haircut won't cause a transformation in your appearance, but if you dyed your hair purple and got a tattoo across your forehead, that would be another story. When a transformation occurs, we often use the phrase "undergo a transformation" in reference to the person or thing who has changed. So, if you do opt for the new hair color and tattoo, you will certainly have "undergone a transformation."

Example Sentences

In an attempt to cushion this blow, Congress created a $50-billion Rural Health Transformation Project.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

“What we believe could be tricky is that SAN now has to deliver on the simultaneous integrations of both TSB and Webster,” they write, adding that the bank is also overseeing its One Transformation program.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

The government’s Ministry of Digital Transformation launched new features on its mobile app, Diia, where business can be registered, foreign national business owners can pay taxes, and the government can provide business-related public services.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

To explore this mystery, a team led by Associate Professor Tomoaki Ishiyama of Chiba University's Digital Transformation Enhancement Council in Japan carried out one of the most extensive cosmological simulations ever performed.

From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2025

Transformation was discovered by an English bacteriologist named Frederick Griffith.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• conversion
• metamorphosis
• renewal
• revolution
• shift