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

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

Charles Koch and his son’s guide to running a business includes continuous transformation and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 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

“Historically it was a sector that was very pedestrian from an organic-growth standpoint, and what we’ve seen is a real transformation in terms of the ability of companies to build stuff,” said the portfolio manager.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

An immediate consequence, therefore, which is the subject of Chapter 4, was a radical transformation in the understanding of how the Earth is constructed: the emergence of the concept of the terraqueous globe.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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

Since then, the heavy bomber has undergone more than half a dozen transformations to align its technology with the military’s changing needs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 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

In addition to revealing new details about how these transformations occur, the newly created material displays unusual optical behavior that could eventually be useful for quantum computing and other quantum information technologies.

From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026

She recorded their behavior and the timing of their transformations.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Related Words

• conversion
• metamorphosis
• renewal
• revolution
• shift