transformation

American  

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

noun

• transformations
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• transformations
  plural

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

See Examples For:

transformation transformations

The discovery also highlights the new findings continuing to emerge from the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research at La Brea Tar Pits as the museum undergoes a historic transformation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Chelsea's transformation under Antonio Conte was incredible, but there's another title-winning side that can match it – Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in 2023-24.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

This transformation has been especially pronounced at America’s wealthiest and most selective colleges and universities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

And he led negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 -- a move seen as consolidating the country's transformation from an isolated economy under Mao to the marketplace of the world.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

But before he went off to college, Roosevelt would undergo another transformation.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Scott Nuttall, the co-CEO of KKR, said in a statement that “Frank was an outstanding leader” and “delivered one of the most successful transformations in our history.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

He has pledged "social transformations that the country urgently cries out for" while promising to "take stock" of the peace strategy and "make the necessary changes".

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

“Like previous technological transformations, AI will reduce opportunities for some jobs and create more opportunities for new ones,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026

But understanding that my body is still my body, and our production I don’t think was particularly interested in doing huge physical transformations in terms of prosthetics or things like that.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Heisenberg and others who have been responsible for particular intellectual reconfigurations, mutations or transformations in science had a very good grasp of what they were doing as they did it.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• conversion
• metamorphosis
• renewal
• revolution
• shift